Rapid City Regional Airport recorded its busiest first half on record in 2026, with 206,010 enplaned passengers from January through June, a 5% increase over the previous record set in 2025.
The airport reported 419,553 total passengers during the six-month period, including 213,543 arriving travelers. June was the busiest month of the first half with 52,362 enplanements, up 6.1% from a year earlier, while May posted the strongest year-over-year growth at 8.5%.
The record marks the sixth consecutive year of first-half passenger growth for the airport, which serves as the primary air gateway to western South Dakota, the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park.
Airport officials credited airline partners, airport staff and tenants for managing the continued growth, while emphasizing the need for ongoing investment in airport infrastructure to meet rising travel demand.
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