Nashville International Airport Surpasses 11.6 Million Passengers in 2015

NASHVILLE ─ The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) today announced Nashville International Airport (BNA) served more than 11.6 million passengers in the 2015 calendar year, setting a new all-time passenger record.

“It’s been an extraordinary year for Nashville International Airport on so many different levels,” said Rob Wigington, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority president and CEO. “Our passenger traffic continues its record-setting growth, adding to the vitality of this region and showcasing the role the airport serves as a major driver of economic development for our community. We will continue to work hard to improve and grow our airports and set new records in 2016.”

In 2015, 11,673,633 passengers traveled into and out of BNA, a robust 5.7 percent increase over the previous year. Additionally, BNA launched a number of new initiatives and services in 2015, including:

• Alaska Airlines joining the BNA team with new nonstop, year-round service to Seattle,
• Two nonstop options to the Bay Area including recently announced long-sought after service to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) through United Airlines—with service beginning May 5, 2016—and the start of nonstop service to Oakland International Airport (OAK) through Southwest Airlines,
• Announcement of JetBlue beginning service at BNA with twice-daily nonstop service to Boston and daily nonstop service to Fort Lauderdale beginning May 5, 2016,
• OneJet joining the BNA team with service to Indianapolis,
• Opening two new restaurants at BNA: Hissho Sushi and Vino Volo wine bar,
• Groundbreaking of the largest geothermal lake plate cooling system in North America, which will cool the entire terminal building and save MNAA more than $430,000 in utility costs per year,
• Opening three solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations on the top of the Short Term Parking Garage, and
• Opening a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry Enrollment Center, marking the first center in Tennessee.
• It was also a banner year for John C. Tune (JWN) Airport, which saw a runway extension, Runway Safety Area improvements and complete terminal renovation, enhancing its position as Tennessee’s premiere general aviation airport.

Some of BNA’s 2015 accolades included:

• 2015 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award,
• BuzzFeed’s “19 Airports You Wouldn’t Mind Being Stuck in”; one of only three U.S. airports included on list,
• TheStreet’s “These Are the Best Airports in the World”; only U.S. airport included,
• Jetsetter.com’s “9 Craziest Things to Do at an Airport”; only U.S. airport included on list,
• Boston Globe “Airport restaurant where you can eat like a local”,
• Huffington Post’s “6 Things to Do If You’re Stranded at the Airport”, and
• #9 Best U.S. Airport by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
• 2016 is slated to be another banner year for BNA. MNAA will be undertaking numerous projects this year to expand facilities and enhance services in an effort to continue to meet the needs and wants of BNA’s growing passenger volume and the expanding Nashville region.

Nashville International Airport is currently served by 10 airlines and offers 390 daily arriving and departing flights. Nashville International provides nonstop air service to more than 50 markets. Visit www.flynashville.com for more information.

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) was established in 1970, and owns and operates Nashville International Airport (BNA) and John C. Tune Airport (JWN). MNAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, please visit www.flynashville.com. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/NashvilleInternationalAirport and follow us on Twitter: @Fly_Nashville.

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