Airport achieves second-best year in history amid continued growth
ROCK SPRINGS (WNE) — As the holiday travel season concludes, the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport (RKS) is proud to announce another year of strong performance and growth.
In 2025, passenger traffic continued its upward trend, with 52,495 total passengers, an increase of 21.8% over 2024, marking the airport’s second-best year on record and falling just short of 2012 levels, when the region experienced an energy sector driven economic boom and two airlines served the airport with 80% more daily seats.
“This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people,” Airport Director Devon Brubaker said. “Every flight represents a connection: a grandmother meeting her first grandchild, a patient traveling for critical care, a local business owner expanding markets, or a skilled worker strengthening our community. Commercial air service is more than convenience, it’s a lifeline. It drives over $38.6 million in annual economic impact for Southwest Wyoming and $2.6 billion statewide, but its true value is measured in the lives it touches every day.”
Beyond passenger growth, 2025 brought increases in aircraft landed weight, time-sensitive cargo, transient hangar utilization, and jet fuel sales, all indicators of a thriving aviation ecosystem in Southwest Wyoming. The airport recorded 10,402 aircraft operations for the year, underscoring its role as a critical transportation hub in Southwest Wyoming.
The airport also celebrated a major milestone earlier in the year with the opening of its new $43.8 million commercial airline terminal, funded with only $1.275 million in local contributions.
This story was published on Jan. 10, 2026.