South Bend International Airport Adds Nonstop Flights to Fort Lauderdale As tourism is up 23% from last year
SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- As rainy skies roll over Michiana, the idea of soaking up the sun in a tropical destination might sound especially tempting and soon folks will have a new way to get there thanks to a new direct flight from South Bend International Airport (SBN) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport starting at 59 dollars one way.
Starting Friday, August 29th, travelers will be able to fly nonstop to Fort Lauderdale twice a week aboard Allegiant Air.
For longtime South Bend flyers like Terry Schpok, the additions to SBN are necessary,
“There was a time when I got my first job working in South Bend we actually had to charter planes because the airlines didn’t have enough flights to send out of here to cities around the country. Now it has improved since then,” said Schpok, who was traveling back to Dallas after a trip to visit his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame.
Travelers appreciate the ease of flying from South Bend, especially compared to the long drive to larger hubs like Chicago.
“It’s closer to campus and so we don’t have to make a long drive over to Chicago,” said recent Notre Dame graduates Sophia Santoso and Fion Lay. “It’s pretty convenient, even though we usually have a connection.”
“The booming of a town is the success of an airport, and the airport is really growing by leaps and bounds,”said Mark McGill of the South Bend Regional Chamber. “The more passengers that pass through these doors, the more routes we get.”
SBN welcomed a record-breaking 50,000 passengers in March 2025 alone. If that momentum continues, the airport could see one million passengers this year, a milestone it hasn’t hit since 1997.
Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka, says the airport is an essential gateway to the region.
“It’s not only the welcoming point for the 5.7 million visitors that come to St. Joseph County each year—it’s also that welcome home point to our residents,” Jarnecke explained. “The incredible numbers year to date at SBN align with the growth we are seeing in tourism.”
Tourism is taking of in St. Joe County. Visit South Bend Mishawaka reports that visitor traffic is up 23% from last year, with 62% of travelers coming to visit the University of Notre Dame.
“The economic impact from that is felt in our community,” said Mark Daigle, SBN’s Executive Director & CEO. “More hotel stays, more people in our restaurants, more people here.”
The Fort Lauderdale service marks SBN’s 17th nonstop destination, up from just 12 routes at the start of 2024. The airport hopes more growth is on the horizon.
“The things that are happening at this airport are really tremendous,” added McGill. “We hope to see you soon and do this again!”
The inaugural Fort Lauderdale flight departs Friday, August 29th, and will be celebrated with a special take-off party.