Release Date: February 5, 2026
Contact: Melissa Riley Patsiavos, Public Information Officer – City of Dayton, (937) 454-8406 | mpatsiavos@flydayton.com
Dayton, OH – Dayton International Airport (DAY) finished 2025 with a 1.7% increase in passenger enplanements, welcoming more than 11,000 additional departing passengers compared to the previous year. Airport officials emphasized that this growth represents a significant win, especially in a year marked by federal funding cuts and a government shutdown, which created operational and financial challenges for airports nationwide, especially those that have a large percentage of federal government passengers like DAY.
Despite those headwinds, demand remained strong, and airlines continued to invest in the region – momentum that is expected to accelerate in 2026. Three out of the four airline carriers at DAY reported growth with United Airlines leading that growth by 11.3%.
United Airlines recently confirmed it is expanding service with additional capacity to Chicago, including more flight frequencies and upgraded aircraft over the next six months. United Airlines expects an average of 45 additional departing flights and 2,805 more seats available per month starting in the spring. This expansion is expected to enhance schedule flexibility for both business and leisure travelers, while improving onward connectivity to key national and international destinations.
“Our 2025 performance is a testament to the strength of this community and the loyalty of passengers who continue choosing to fly local,” said Gil Turner, Director of Aviation at Dayton International Airport. “Growing enplanements in a difficult federal funding climate shows the resilience of our region. The added Chicago service is an exciting next step toward improving the travel options for our passengers.”
“We are thrilled to increase connectivity between Dayton and Chicago with additional daily nonstop flights,” said Mark Weithofer, United’s Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning. “United offers more direct service from O’Hare than any other airline – providing travelers in Dayton greater access to 222 destinations around the world.”
The airport recognizes our regional economic development partners, including JobsOhio, the Greater Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, Dayton Development Coalition, the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Destination Dayton, and other leaders whose support strengthens airline relationships and promotes the value of air service in the region.
Passengers are encouraged to “Fly Local” whenever possible. Choosing your hometown airport helps support and retain existing air service, attract new routes and added capacity, keep travel spending within the region, strengthen the airport’s role in economic development, and reduce long drives, parking costs, and travel fatigue.
“Every local ticket sold makes a difference,” Turner added. “Our community’s support is the reason we continue to grow – and we’re committed to bringing even more air service options to travelers in the years ahead.”
For more information about this new service or to book your flight, please visit the Dayton International Airport’s website at FlyDayton.com. Tickets are available for purchase now at United.com or through United Airline’s mobile app.
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About Dayton International Airport
Located near the “Crossroads of the America” – Interstates 70 and 75, the Dayton International Airport (DAY) provides air service to travelers to and from Southwest Ohio. The DAY mission is to contribute to the prosperity of Southwest Ohio by connecting it to the rest of the world through our aviation system. For more information about the Dayton International Airport, visit www.flydayton.com.
