Riverton, WY – Central Wyoming Regional Airport saw over 21,000 departing commercial passengers in 2024, marking the highest number of enplanements in more than 25 years. The total for 2024 reached 21,704, surpassing the previous high of 16,847 set in 2008.
“Having the right service made this achievement possible,” said Missy White, a longtime member of the Fremont Air Service Team. “SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, connects us to Denver and beyond, which has become a tremendous asset for the business community and Fremont County residents. We know it’s important for people to get to sales meetings and educational conferences, to doctors’ visits, and to have a reliable way to visit family.”
Central Wyoming Regional Airport serves to keep rural Wyoming connected to the national transportation network. From Denver, passengers can continue with United Airlines to more than 180 destinations around the world.
SkyWest Airlines resumed twice-daily round-trip flights to Central Wyoming Regional Airport on June 1, 2024, after more than a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, when flights were reduced to one daily round trip. The return of these additional flights directly contributed to the record passenger numbers in 2024.
“It’s clear there is a market for commercial air service in Fremont County,” said Riverton City Administrator Kyle Butterfield. “The right air service partner, the right schedule, and the right number of flights have brought that market to life – which has improved the quality of life for our residents and economic development opportunities for our businesses.”
Members of the Fremont Air Service Team were initially skeptical when airport management and air service consultants suggested in 2015 that Riverton Regional Airport could eventually see 20,000 or even 25,000 passenger enplanements. At the time, the airport’s ten-year average for departing passengers was just above 13,000.
Achieving 21,704 enplanements in 2024 is attributed to the support of Fremont County residents, local governments, and the State of Wyoming. The Optional ½% Excise Tax for Economic Development, which expires in March 2025, also played a crucial role in securing the airport’s viability and growth. Similar to other rural airports across the nation, commercial air service at Central Wyoming Regional Airport requires a financial commitment in the form of a minimum revenue guarantee to support an air service provider.
ABOUT CENTRAL WYOMING REGIONAL AIRPORT: Formerly Riverton Regional Airport, Central Wyoming Regional Airport is located three miles northwest of Riverton, in Fremont County, Wyoming. It covers 1,250 acres and has two asphalt runways. Central Wyoming Regional supports general aviation activities and is Fremont County’s only commercial service airport. United Express, operated by SkyWest Airlines, connects passengers to the national transportation network with daily flights from Fremont County to Denver International Airport, one of the best-connected airports in the nation.