Air traffic through Arnold Palmer Regional Airport last year fell to its lowest level since 2011 even as local leaders brace for more decline while questions linger about the future of the facility’s lone commercial carrier.
According to figures released this week, just 119,379 passengers went through the gates in 2025 to travel to three destinations serviced by discount flyer Spirit Airlines. It was the fewest number of passengers in and out of the Unity airport since Spirit initiated commercial service in Westmoreland County in 2011.
Last year’s numbers were even lower than passenger totals from 2020, a year marred by travel stoppages related to the covid-19 pandemic.
“I’m not stunned. We’ve been living like this for the last two years now,” said Gabe Monzo, the outgoing executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority. Monzo has announced he will retire in April.
Monzo said there is continued concern over Spirit’s future.
“I’d say it’s a 50-50 proposition at best,” Monzo said. “If we get back on their full flight schedule, we can thrive. If not, we’re hoping someone else comes in. We have the business. We’ve proved that. What worries me is that, if they’re not providing service, it makes us look bad.”
From 2015 through 2019, an average of more than 300,000 passengers flew on Spirit Airlines in and out of Palmer airport. After two years of growth following the pandemic, passenger totals declined again starting in 2023 amid Spirit’s financial struggles that resulted in reduced flight schedules at the Westmoreland County airport.
Last fall, Spirit entered bankruptcy for the second time in the past few years. It is attempting to restructure its finances.
During its heyday in Westmoreland County, Spirit operated daily flights to multiple destinations in Florida, including Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Fort Myers.
It currently operates just five weekly flights to Orlando.
Airline officials confirmed the schedule at the Westmoreland airport will increase in February, when flights to Orlando will operate seven days a week.
Five weekly flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C., will resume April 15.
“We know Myrtle Beach is a favorite destination for our Latrobe guests, and we look forward to resuming this route for travelers to enjoy a warm getaway,” said Andrea Lusso, Spirit’s vice president of network planning. “Our Latrobe guests are true Spirit super fans, and we’re grateful for how much they embrace our high-value service.”
Spirit officials did not respond to further questions about future flight operations at the Unity airport.
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority in November hired Volaire Aviation Consultants at $3,000 a month to seek out new business. The Indiana-based company replaced Boyd Aviation Group, which for decades represented the authority.
Mike Boyd, president of Boyd Aviation, said Spirit might be the only realistic option for commercial flights to operate out of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.
Boyd said he met with heads of other discount airlines last fall to pitch service at Palmer airport. None expressed any level of interest in operating in Westmoreland County alongside Spirit. Should Spirit cease operations, the outlook isn’t much brighter, he suggested.
“I’m not optimistic that if Spirit leaves another airline would come in,” Boyd said. “But with or without Spirit, it’s a viable airport and it can survive being an economic engine. You don’t judge the value of the airport’s future on the yellow airplanes that are flying in and out of it.”
Both Boyd and Monzo said the commuter service, charter flights, private air travel and flight school operations will continue to operate and could flourish at the airport.
Airport expansion continues
The commercial flight uncertainty comes as a $22 million expansion of the airport’s terminal and passenger gates continues. The first phase of the project, an expanded and relocated passenger area and baggage systems, is expected to be complete in April. The installation of a second gate is set to open in 2027.
Monzo said the airport authority is positioned to weather a reduced flight schedule.
The authority revised its budgeting for 2026 to reflect fewer flights and has reduced use of part-time employees. Monzo said 28 full-time staff remain on the payroll, but projected expenses for airport operations were reduced to reflect revenue shrinkage related to fewer flights.
“The budget we have in place is reasonable,” Monzo said. “We think we will be in a good place this year.”
