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Chattanooga Airport boardings flying higher, but still trail 2019

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Marc Guarino reorganizes his bags to get both under 50 pounds before flying to Sacramento on July 1 at the Chattanooga Airport. Airport boardings are up about 20% through September over the previous year.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Marc Guarino reorganizes his bags to get both under 50 pounds before flying to Sacramento on July 1 at the Chattanooga Airport. Airport boardings are up about 20% through September over the previous year. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Marc Guarino reorganizes his bags to get both under 50 pounds before flying to Sacramento on July 1 at the Chattanooga Airport. Airport boardings are up about 20% through September over the previous year.

By Mike Pare 3 min read


Chattanooga Airport passenger boardings are up 20% in the first three-quarters of the year versus 2021, and Delta Air Lines is expected to hold onto its No. 1 ranking at Lovell Field, officials said Monday.

The sharp climb in boardings comes as travelers return to the skies nationally in droves after a couple of pandemic-stricken years, pressuring airlines amid a pilot shortage, said Terry Hart, the airport’s chief executive.

Hart said commercial flights at the airport in September had load factors, or the number of filled seats, at about 91%. He told a meeting of the Airport Authority that 90% is generally considered full.

The airport CEO said he expects boardings at Lovell Field to finish at about 430,000 passengers, up from about 377,000 in 2021, or more than 12% higher.