St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is currently ranked the 34th largest U.S. airport and the fourth largest medium hub airport, enplaning 7.8 million passengers annually pre-pandemic. Mead & Hunt has worked closely with STL on air service development efforts, analyzing the market to create priorities and provide direction. STL experienced many international air service improvements since we became their air service consultant, including additions by American Airlines to Cancun, Mexico; Southwest Airlines to Cancun, Mexico, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Viva Aerobus to Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos, Mexico among others.
STL has also experienced domestic service improvements, including additions by Frontier Airlines to Las Vegas and Orlando; Southwest Airlines to Austin, Charleston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New York-LaGuardia, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Washington, DC, West Palm Beach, and more; and Sun Country Airlines to Fort Myers, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Tampa, among others.
Most recently, Spirit Airlines announced plans to enter the STL market in May 2021, after STL and Mead & Hunt met with them 15 times over seven years. STL now has service on three ultra-low-cost carriers.