New routes boosting passenger traffic in Memphis

Although best known for cargo due to being home to the global hub of FedEx Express, Memphis International Airport (MEM) is getting noticed for the way it is slowly and effectively developing passenger operations.

In 2025, MEM gained 11 new passenger destinations, which marked the highest number in the airport’s post-Delta hub era.

And the good work has continued this year with the airport recently announcing four new non-stop flights:

• Frontier non-stop service to Las Vegas starting March 8 and Phoenix starting March 15
• Breeze non-stop service to San Antonio starting May 8
• Southwest non-stop service to Austin starting October 1

The renewed emphasis on developing its route network is part of its Now at MEM campaign, which launched at the end of 2025, to attract more passengers in the catchment area to the easy and convenient passenger experience at MEM.

Indeed, MEM offering these new destinations is an effort to not only attract new passengers, but also meet the needs of MEM loyalists and frequent flyers.

As a result, over the last few years, the airport has actively worked to attract more services from budget-friendly airlines, and new destinations launched by Breeze Airways and Spirit Airlines show that the strategy is paying off.

“We are excited for the additional non-stop destinations and the travel options they provide for our passengers. We continue to work diligently to enhance the travel experience for passengers in the Mid-South region,” said Terry Blue, president and CEO of Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA).

In 2025, MEM served nearly 4.8 million passengers and handled 6.5 billion pounds of cargo. The airport was also ranked as the top family-friendly airport in the U.S. by iCandy, in their study on the world’s most family-friendly airports.