Louisville Airport Adds 24 Routes for Kentucky Derby Travel Surge

Around 35,000 passengers are expected to pass through Louisville for the Derby.

This direct connection from Louisville to Nashville is set to expand destination choices for travelers.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is introducing multiple new routes ahead of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2.

Airport officials state that travelers can benefit from 24 additional flights at SDF, including increased service from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City.

In addition, nonstop service to six new markets has been introduced exclusively for Derby, including Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Austin, and Santa Ana.

“Derby is consistently the busiest time of year at SDF, and preparations are underway for what we expect will be another strong influx of visitors,” said Dan Mann, executive director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “With five of our eight airline partners adding significant service, we anticipate record-setting passenger volumes passing through our terminal while the SDF team remains focused on delivering a smooth and positive travel experience for our guests.”

Between Wednesday, April 29 and Friday, May 1, approximately 35,000 passengers are expected to travel through Louisville for the 152nd Run for the Roses. Thursday, April 30 is projected to be the busiest arrival day, with nearly 16,500 seats scheduled by airlines, according to SDF officials.

Sunday, May 3 is once again expected to be the airport’s busiest day of the year—more than twice its daily average—as close to 20,000 people are projected to depart Louisville following the Kentucky Derby.

“We know it will be an extremely busy few days at the airport as we welcome visitors with a red-carpet experience,” Mann said. “I’m confident this year’s Derby will be another success for our airport, thanks to the strong SDF team working closely with our airline partners, TSA, the FAA’s air traffic control tower, our in-terminal concessionaires, and many others to ensure this surge is handled smoothly for travelers.”

Markets added to SDF in 2026 for the Kentucky Derby include:

American Airlines
Austin (AUS)
New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
Houston-George Bush (IAH)
Santa Ana, CA (SNA)
Jacksonville (JAX)
Phoenix (PHX)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Pittsburgh (PIT)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
New Orleans (MSY)
West Palm Beach (PBI)
New York-JFK (JFK)

Delta Air Lines
Austin (AUS)
Raleigh/Durham (RDU)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Salt Lake City (SLC)
New York-JFK (JFK)

Southwest Airlines
Austin (AUS)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Kansas City (MCI)

Spirit Airlines
Newark (EWR)

United Airlines
Los Angeles (LAX)
San Francisco (SFO)

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