The Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR) was setting and then breaking, monthly passenger records regularly from 2014 to 2020. After back to back years with more then a million passengers flying in and out of MFR, nothing could seemingly stop the tremendous growth the airport was experiencing. Then in March 2020, the good times came to an abrupt stop. COVID had taken a record bite out of the worldwide airline industry, and MFR felt it.
Since the global pandemic hit in March 2020, it’s been a rollercoaster of variants that directly affected air travel. But little by little, the Medford Airport continued to claw its way back, getting closer and closer each month to regaining passengers.
In 2019, MFR set their all-time June record of 107,241 passengers. In the pandemic year of 2020, June passenger numbers dropped to 31,587.
But after more then two years of ups and downs, caused by a unprecedented global pandemic, MFR recorded its second highest June passenger record ever.
In June of 2022, the Medford Airport welcomed 105,311 passengers through its gates. That’s an increase of over 73,000 passengers, when compared to June 2020.
One noticeable reason for the increase is caused by the airlines themselves. United is now flying larger Boeing 737’s on some of their direct daily Denver and San Francisco routes out of MFR. Allegiant has also bumped up their aircraft size out of Medford. The carrier now uses their largest Airbus A320 aircraft on nearly all their flights in and out of MFR.
As air travel continues to rebound, MFR officials are in the process of formulating an updated growth strategy for the regional airport. Talks include an terminal expansion, along with at least one new concourse with additional gates for aircraft.
We will continue to report on the growth and development of the Medford Airport as the process moves forward.
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