Airport Authority Board Approves $326 Million Budget 

Passenger Traffic Up More Than 26% Over 2022 

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board has approved the annual Business Plan and Capital and Operating Expense Budgets for the year ending March 31, 2024. The business plan and budget outline the Authority’s activities and priorities for the coming year to meet the region’s increasing demand for air travel at RDU.

“Next year’s budget sets a flight path for the airport to grow with our community by making investments in our staff, infrastructure and key strategic initiatives including small business outreach and sustainability,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “The budget positions RDU to recruit more airlines, add new destinations and build for the future while continuing to deliver a world-class airport experience.”

The FY23-24 Budget focuses on the areas of Talent and Organization, Customer Experience, Finance, Community and Infrastructure, including:

  • Recruiting and retaining Airport Authority employees 
  • Funding for the replacement of RDU’s primary runway 
  • Recruiting new airlines and destinations 
  • Improving terminals and parking facilities 
  • Reducing traffic on the roads and terminal curbs  
  • Expanding the concessions development program in Terminal 2 
  • Enhancing RDU’s Minority and Women-Owned Small Business program 
  • Implementing RDU’s Sustainability Management Plan 
  • Increasing the Authority’s cash fund balance by $35 million 
  • Continued stewardship of the Authority’s financial resources 

Passenger Traffic: Passenger traffic increased sharply in February compared to the same month last year. 888,293 passengers flew through RDU last month, an increase of 26.7 percent over February of 2022. Traffic also continues to close the gap on pre-pandemic levels. Last month’s total was down only 7.8 percent compared to February 2020.

Avelo Adds Jobs, Routes: Avelo announced it will add nonstop routes from RDU to Memphis, Tennessee; Rochester, New York; and Manchester, New Hampshire this summer. The airline also announced it will expand its base at RDU, adding a second aircraft and creating at least 30 more local jobs.