Akron-Canton Airport: Plans for Growth
The Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) has seen a significant shift in its passenger makeup in the past six years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of travelers at CAK were business travelers heading to cities like New York City and Houston. However, with the rise in leisure travel, the airport has experienced a surge in passengers traveling to vacation destinations, largely thanks to the growth of carriers like Breeze and Allegiant.
Ren Camacho, the airport’s president and CEO, is grateful for the success of these leisure-focused carriers, but is also working towards bringing back business destinations. According to Camacho, many local companies are eager for nonstop flights to cities like Houston, New York City, Atlanta, and Dallas.
To cater to the changing needs of the travel industry, CAK has released a strategic plan for the next three years. This decision was made to ensure that the airport remains agile and focused in the ever-evolving world of air travel. “This new plan reflects CAK’s commitment to innovation, resilience, and service as we look towards the future,” says Camacho.
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, CAK is expected to serve over 830,000 passengers this year, the most since 2019. However, the makeup of these travelers has shifted significantly. Business-focused destinations like New York City, Houston, Denver, and Atlanta are no longer on the list, with Delta Air Lines completely exiting the airport and Southwest pulling out in 2017.
On the other hand, Breeze and Allegiant are now the top carriers at CAK, with 35% and 29% of all passengers, respectively. Breeze, which was founded in 2021, has seen rapid growth and will be flying to 16 destinations from Akron-Canton this fall, with five new cities added to its lineup. The carrier is also set to open a new crew base at the airport this summer, with up to 60 pilots and flight attendants based in Northeast Ohio. Camacho calls this “our hit-it-out-of-the-park moment” and is amazed at the carrier’s turnaround.
The Akron-Canton Airport is not just popular among local travelers. A recent study found that approximately 30% of passengers come from the Akron area, 30% from Canton-Massillon, and 18% from the Cleveland area. The airport’s low fares, which are the lowest in the region, are attracting passengers from outside of Summit and Stark counties. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the airport’s average fare was $293. 47, considerably lower than Cleveland ($382. 70), Pittsburgh ($391. 85), and Columbus ($461. 38).
Camacho, a former executive at Cleveland Hopkins, sees no competition with Northeast Ohio’s largest airport, located about 50 miles north of Akron-Canton. Instead, he believes that their success is CAK’s success.