WASHINGTON — For the third consecutive year, BWI Marshall Airport set a record for passengers and likely remained the busiest of the three airports in the Washington region.
BWI Marshall surpassed 26 million passengers in 2017. It also broke passenger records in 29 out of the last 30 months.
BWI Marshall had 25.1 million passengers in 2016.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which represents Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport has not released 2017 passenger figures. In 2016, Reagan National had 23.6 million passengers. Dulles had 22 million.
Southwest Airlines is the top airline operating out of BWI, accounting for about half of all flights, but others have been adding service from the airport, including new international destinations.
Icelandair recently announced its return to service from BWI after pulling out of the airport in 2008. Air Canada adds service to Montreal in May. Spirit Airlines begins service to Jamaica in March. Vacation Express starts seasonal flights to Cozumel, Mexico in June.
Dulles remains the top departure airport for international destinations in the Washington region by far, but BWI Marshall’s international service has grown to more than 1 million passengers a year.
All three Washington area airports rank well for customer satisfaction.
Reagan National was No. 9 on the 2017 J.D. Power North American Airport Satisfaction ranking. BWI Marshall ranked No. 11. Dulles ranked No. 13.
