Airport officials credit Meta-related construction, tourism, and new DFW service for the bump.
News ClipWDBJ7·Monroe, Ouachita County, LA·6/20/2026
Monroe Regional Airport reported a significant increase in departing passengers during the first quarter of 2026, up from the previous year. Airport Director Charles Butcher attributed this growth to economic activity generated by the Meta Data Center project, along with increased leisure travel and the new American Airlines route to Dallas-Fort Worth. He anticipates this upward trend in passenger numbers will continue.
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Gov: Monroe Regional Airport
More people flew out of Monroe Regional Airport during the first quarter of 2026, with just over 26,000 departing passengers compared to just over 22,000 in the first quarter of 2025. Airport Director Charles Butcher linked the increase to economic activity tied to the Meta Data Center project and an uptick in leisure travel, and he expects numbers to keep climbing as American Airlines’ newer Dallas-Fort Worth route gains traction.