Travel Trends: Kansas City’s Underserved Destinations for 2024 Revealed

Travel Trends from Kansas City: A Look at the Underserved Destinations of 2024

Ah, Kansas City! A bustling hub known for its delicious BBQ, vibrant arts scene, and friendly folks. But today, we’re diving into something a bit different—the travel patterns of residents flying out of Kansas City International Airport (MCI). It’s the second quarter of 2024, and we wanted to see which destinations are in need of nonstop flights. Spoiler alert: Some familiar names came up again!

A Shift in Popular Travel Spots

Earlier this year, our trusty friends at the Kansas City Business Journal compiled a list of the most underserved travel destinations for 2023. Fast forward to now, and we were curious how those rankings have changed. Turns out, the list still features some beloved locations that people are eager to visit but just can’t get to easily.

The Numbers Speak

So, which destinations ranked highest for the first half of 2024? Well, brace yourself! The airports included in our findings had fewer than 10 nonstop flights from MCI, yet they each saw an average of at least 45 people flying there daily. Among the 20 destinations listed, the top seven also ranked among the 50 most popular routes flown out of KCI this past quarter. How about that for a twist!

For example, you might be surprised to learn that Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), with an average of 149.6 daily passengers, stood proudly as KCI’s 31st most popular destination! It’s clear that folks in Kansas City are yearning for easier access to these hot spots.

All Eyes on Ohio and California

Looking back at 2023, we noticed some shifts in the rankings. For instance, John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County fell from seventh to twelfth place, while Ontario International Airport (ONT) jumped up seven spots to grab the eleventh position. With these changes, it certainly appears that travelers are expressing their preferences more than ever!

But wait, there’s more! In June, Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier at KCI, decided to take action and launched Sunday-only nonstop flights to Columbus International Airport (CMH). This destination was previously at No. 6 on our list of underserved locations and No. 7 for all of 2023. And just a few months later, on October 3rd, they will also kick off nonstop service to Sacramento, which sat as the second most underserved travel spot this quarter with 104 passengers heading there each day.

Last Words on Future Flights

As we head towards the end of the year, the offerings from KCI look promising. In the fourth quarter, we can look forward to nine nonstop flights to Raleigh-Durham, five to Columbus, and a whopping 62 to Sacramento. That’s quite the expansion!

However, it’s important to note that additional underserved travel destinations like Jacksonville and Cleveland will not have nonstop options available this quarter. It’s a reminder that the world of travel is always shifting, and airlines continuously assess routes to meet passenger demands.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up our little travel chat today, it’s evident that Kansas City travelers have some substantial options as we move into the latter part of 2024. Whether you’re headed to sunny California or the hustle of Columbus, it’s clear that nonstop flights are making dreams of travel more accessible. So, where will you jet off to next?

Until next time, safe travels and happy flying from Kansas City!