San Jose Airport passenger trips struggle, new flights may create lift

SAN JOSE — Passenger trips at San Jose International Airport remain below their pre-coronavirus heights, yet as some improvement emerges, an airline’s return could further bolster the South Bay travel hub.

While the airport is still struggling to reclaim its record passenger totals from before the virus outbreak, the return of Frontier Airlines and its low-cost flights could help add to flight activity.

San Jose International Airport handled 1.09 million passengers during June, according to a new report from the city’s aviation complex.

That was an improvement compared with the number of passengers the South Bay airport accommodated in May but a decline from June 2023.

The airport’s passenger totals in June were 6.2% above the figure reported for May but 2.5% below the passenger activity reported during the same month a year ago.

Over the one-year period that ended in June, San Jose Airport accommodated 11.94 million passengers.

That 12-month total, however, was 23.7% below the record-high 15.65 million passengers San Jose Airport handled in 2019.

2019 was the final year before state and local government agencies imposed wide-ranging business shutdowns to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The June passenger totals marked the fourth straight month that San Jose Airport accommodated more trips than the prior month.

San Jose Airport passenger activity dropped to a recent low in February of approximately 820,400. March, April, May and June brought steadily higher passenger totals, however.

Additional airline flights could help lift passenger totals, which means an airline’s return to San Jose could provide an encouraging shift.

Frontier Airlines this week resumed service at San Jose with daily nonstop flights that connect the South Bay with Denver and San Diego.

“We’re thrilled to mark our return to SJC, connecting area consumers with affordable and convenient travel options to some of the top destinations in the western U.S.,” said Frontier Airlines vice president of network and operations design Josh Flyr.

In August, Frontier Airlines will launch daily nonstop flights to connect San Jose with Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Introductory fares for the Phoenix and Las Vegas flights will be $19. Introductory fares for the Denver, San Diego and Los Angeles flights will be $29.

“Connecting these destinations with nonstop services to San Jose brings the flexibility and choice that passengers have come to expect from SJC,” said San Jose director of aviation Mookie Patel.