More passengers are flying through Rapid City Regional Airport as travel demand continues to rise. The airport has seen nearly a 10% increase in passenger traffic compared to last year, following a record-breaking 2024 when over 427,000 travelers boarded flights.
“As we come into the fall season, we’ll see how things go,” said Patrick Dame, the airport’s executive director. “But I think we’re on pace to break another record this year.”
To keep up with the growth, the airport is working on the first phase of a three-part expansion plan. This initial phase includes upgraded ticket counters and a new TSA security checkpoint.
After that, the airport will move into phase two, which involves expanding the concourse and adding five new gates. The airport currently operates with seven gates, so the expansion would nearly double its capacity—preparing it for even more future growth.
