Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport experiences its busiest summer season in more than fifteen years with passenger numbers reaching new heights

Rochester, New York – The skies over Rochester were busier than they have been in more than a decade and a half, as the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) posted its strongest summer passenger traffic since 2007. Monroe County officials confirmed that more than 370,000 people boarded flights from the local airport during the peak travel months of June, July, and August, signaling a renewed wave of confidence in regional air travel and the airport’s growing role as a transportation hub.

According to county data, 371,775 enplanements—the industry term for paying passengers who board flights—were logged this summer. That figure not only reflects steady growth but also marks the highest summer total in 18 years. The last time ROC saw numbers on this scale was in 2007, when 391,623 passengers flew out during the same three-month stretch.

The airport’s momentum was especially visible in August, when 130,315 people boarded flights. That single-month tally represents the highest summer enplanement count since the 1990s, underlining just how much demand has surged in recent months.

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Monroe County Executive Adam Bello pointed to recent upgrades and service expansions as central drivers of the turnaround. “Airports are engines of economic growth, and the busier they are, the better,” said County Executive Bello. “The dramatic rise in people traveling from ROC is directly related to our investments in the terminal, parking improvements and other amenities, which make the airport as convenient and stress free as possible for travelers. The traveler boost is also due to our ongoing efforts to bring in new airlines with new destinations to and from ROC. This year alone we added non-stop routes to Raleigh/Durham, NC; Nashville, TN; Wilmington NC; Lakeland, FL; and Charleston SC. Next year we’re adding Florida non-stops to Fort Myers and Sarasota.”

The spike in outbound travelers was matched by a comparable influx of inbound passengers. Data shows deplanements—travelers arriving in Rochester from other airports—also reached their highest summer levels since 2007. Taken together, both enplanements and deplanements meant that 742,924 passengers traveled through ROC over the course of the summer season.

For ROC’s leadership, the growing demand validates years of work to improve the passenger experience and negotiate with airlines for more direct service. ROC Airport Director Andy Moore emphasized the connection between demand and airline strategy. “Airlines make decisions on where to put their planes and what routes to fly based on passenger demand,” said ROC Airport Director Andy Moore. “The more people fly out of ROC, the more flights and non-stop routes we can attract to business and leisure destinations.”

Industry observers note that Rochester’s rebound is part of a broader pattern of air travel recovery following years of turbulence caused by the pandemic and shifting airline schedules. But ROC’s performance stands out because the region has historically faced challenges in maintaining consistent traffic volumes compared to larger airports nearby. The renewed growth suggests that investments in customer convenience and new destinations are making a difference for travelers weighing their options.

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Looking ahead, officials are hopeful the airport’s momentum will continue into 2026, especially with new nonstop routes to Florida set to launch. That expansion builds on the airport’s appeal for both leisure travelers seeking sun destinations and business passengers needing efficient regional connections.

As one of Rochester’s most visible gateways, the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport appears to be regaining its footing as a central piece of Monroe County’s economy. With nearly three-quarters of a million passengers moving through the terminal in just three months, officials see the surge not as a one-off, but as a sign of sustained potential.