More Milestones: BNA Announces ‘Five Firsts’ Tops 17 Million Passengers in Fiscal Year 2019

Astounding 15 percent growth; 2.2 million passengers added.

NASHVILLE ─ With the books now closed on Fiscal Year 2019, Nashville International Airport (BNA) today announced "Five Firsts":

  • Topped 17 million total annual passengers
  • Increased passengers in a single year by more than 2 million
  • Increased annual passengers by 15 percent
  • Set passenger records for the sixth consecutive year
  • Set monthly passenger total record for June

More specifically, in FY19 (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019), 17,171,821 passengers traveled into and out of BNA, an increase of more than 2.2 million passengers over last year's record, and representing an unprecedented 15 percent rate of annual growth.

June 2019 set a record as the single busiest month in BNA history, with 1,676,386 passengers, some 13,000 more than the previous record set in May 2019.

"The passenger growth at BNA continues at an unprecedented pace, adding to our challenge of expanding the airport to serve the needs of Middle Tennessee," said Doug Kreulen, BNA president and CEO. "As demonstrated in a recently released study, the airport is an enormous engine of job creation and economic activity for our region. It's our job to continue to accommodate and foster that economic growth. Put simply, we're going to need a bigger airport."

[NOTE: BNA additionally releases passenger data at the end of each calendar year. In calendar year 2018, 15,996,194 passengers traveled to and from BNA, an increase of more than 1.86 million passengers, representing a 13.2 percent increase over the previous year, and setting a new all-time passenger record for the sixth consecutive calendar year. Calendar year totals are released in January. Calendar Year 2019 is on track to surpass 18 million passengers.]

According to a recently released study, BNA generated some $7.1 billion in total economic impact to the Middle Tennessee economy in 2018 alone. Additional findings show more than 67,000 area jobs and $2.8 billion in personal income are supported by activity at BNA, which also produced $168 million is state and local taxes and $224 million in federal aviation-specific taxes.

Nashville International Airport is currently in the midst of a major expansion and renovation project. Known as BNA Vision, the completed project will include additional parking garages, new Concourse D and terminal wings, expanded central terminal and security checkpoint, a state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility, an airport administration building, hotel, and potential transit connection. Take a virtual 360-degree tour, view renderings and watch the BNA Vision video at  BNAvision.com.

BNA is currently served by 15 airlines and offers 540 daily flights. Nashville International Airport provides nonstop air service to 75 destinations.


With more than 17 million passengers visiting each year, Nashville International Airport (BNA) is one of the fastest-growing airports in North America. BNA serves 540 daily flights to 75 nonstop destinations. According to a recent, study, in 2018 alone BNA generated more than $7.1 billion in total economic impact, supported more than 67,000 jobs in the region, and produced more than $392 million in state, local and federal taxes. BNA receives no local tax dollars. For more information, visit flynashville.com. Follow us on Facebook: @NashvilleInternationalAirport, Twitter: @Fly_Nashville and Instagram: @FlyNashville. Learn more about BNA Vision, our growth and expansion plan for the airport, at BNAVision.com.

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