LIHU‘E — The number of people getting off domestic passenger flights at Lihu‘e Airport topped 62,000 in October, which was slightly higher than pre-pandemic October 2019.
A total of 62,216 passengers deplaned domestic flights in October, compared with 72,450 in October 2022, according to data compiled by the state of Hawai‘i’s Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism.
The 2022 figure ranks first for the month of October, while the most recent total comes in fourth. The October 2021 total of 62,859 ranks second, while the October 2018 total of 62,328 is third.
The count only includes passengers from direct domestic flights, including Kaua‘i residents returning home, and excludes the thousands of visitors arriving by inter-island air each month.
That means visitors arriving from neighboring islands aren’t accounted for in the domestic deplanement total even if their flight originated in the Lower 48, nor are passengers on flights from Canada.
For the 10-month period ended Oct. 31, the domestic passenger count measured 707,620. That was down 7.69 percent from 766,626 in the same 10-month period ended Oct. 31, 2022. Data subject to revision.
Of note, the passenger count exceeded 900,000 for the first time in an annual period last year, as it ended up at 910,558 for the 12-months ended Dec. 31, 2022. The previous high of 772,705 was set in 2018, followed by 770,934 in 2019, department data showed.
