Wisevoter
Cleveland

Cleveland Airport Logs 823,339 Passengers in September

Passenger traffic rose 0.7% from September 2025 while year-to-date totals remain slightly below last year.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Air Travel

Bold vector editorial illustration of identical white passenger jets lined up on a grey apron under an overcast sky, suggesting steady airport traffic.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport served 823,339 passengers in September, up 0.7% from a year earlier, though year-to-date traffic remains 0.4% below 2025. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think air travel from Cleveland is getting better for travelers?

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport recorded 823,339 passengers in September 2026, up 0.7% from 817,802 in September 2025. Through September, the airport has handled 7,598,689 passengers, down 0.4% from 7,626,216 over the same period in 2025.

Why it matters

The modest monthly gain comes after a year in which Cleveland Hopkins traffic fell nearly 2% from 2024, and the airport still trails last year's pace. New seasonal nonstop service to Miami is expected to add to traffic later this year.

Airport passenger totals are reported as monthly and nine-month cumulative counts, with September 2026 at 823,339 against 817,802 a year earlier. The figures do not break down traffic by carrier or route, so the contribution of individual airlines cannot be isolated.

The players

United Airlines

United Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the United States, operating a major hub network across the country.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is the main commercial airport serving Cleveland, Ohio, and the surrounding region.

The details

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport's September 2026 traffic was 0.7% higher than September 2025, but cumulative traffic through September is 0.4% lower than the prior year. Year-over-year figures show 2025 closed just below 10 million passengers, a decline of nearly 2% from 2024. Across the region, Akron-Canton Airport served 847,021 travelers through August 2026, up 38% from the same period in 2025.

Timeline

  1. September 2025: baseline month for the September 2026 comparison.

  2. 2025: full year closed with passenger traffic down nearly 2% from 2024.

  3. September 2026: airport recorded 823,339 passengers.

  4. December 3, 2026: United Airlines begins seasonal nonstop service from Cleveland to Miami.

  5. April 5, 2027: United Airlines Miami seasonal service ends.

Travel Outlook

Cleveland Hopkins ended 2025 nearly 2% below 2024 traffic, and its 2026 year-to-date total remains 0.4% behind 2025. The September uptick is a small step toward recovery rather than a reversal of that longer slide.

Travelers flying from Cleveland to Miami will have a nonstop option beginning December 3, 2026, operating five days a week. The route operates every day except Tuesday and Wednesday, so schedules should be checked before booking.

The takeaway

Cleveland's airport traffic is nearly flat, with a small monthly gain and a modest year-to-date decline. The new Miami route will be the clearest test of whether that trend turns upward in the months ahead.

What happens next

United Airlines' Cleveland to Miami seasonal nonstop begins December 3, 2026, and runs through April 5, 2027.

Further reading

For more on regional flight demand, explore Air Travel coverage across Cleveland.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.

Live Poll

Do you think air travel from Cleveland is getting better for travelers?