Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) carried its summer momentum into early fall, posting a second straight month of year-over-year gains and a stronger September than last year.
Airport figures show PSP handled 152,773 passengers in September, up 7.1% from 142,688 a year ago. Enplanements rose 5.8% to 73,951, and deplanements increased 8.3% to 78,822. In August, PSP processed 122,167 passengers, a 3.5% increase from 118,083 in August 2024, with modest gains on both the departing and arriving sides. Through the first nine months of the year, total passengers reached 2,430,487, up 4.5% year to date.
The September lift extends a run that began in the core summer months. June rose 6.1% to 139,720, and July climbed 11.0% to 125,080, both compared with 2024. Those steady, incremental gains helped put the airport slightly ahead of last year as the Greater Palm Springs high season approaches.
How PSP stacks up with other destination gateways
PSP’s early-fall performance stands out next to several big leisure markets whose late-summer results were mixed.
- Las Vegas reported scale and resilience in August, serving more than 4.5 million passengers at Harry Reid International (LAS). This tally underscores the city’s durable draw even as some markets cooled.
- San Diego registered a 0.6% year-over-year decline in August to 2,315,596 total passengers, reflecting slightly lower scheduled seats and a flat operation count.
- Hawai’i’s visitor industry continued to face international headwinds in August, with statewide visitor arrivals down 2.6% year over year, a reminder that long-haul demand from Asia and Canada remains uneven.
Analysts and tourism officials around California have cited a softer international segment in 2025, complicating results at airports with larger overseas mixes. One statewide report flagged a forecast decline in international trips to California this year and noted pressure on Los Angeles International’s year-over-year results earlier in the summer. Against that backdrop, PSP’s domestic-heavy profile appears to be a buffer as it leans on strong West Coast and Sun Belt demand heading into the fall.
What the numbers say about demand patterns
The late-summer composition at PSP continues to favor regional leisure and travel to visit friends and relatives. That is visible in the monthly splits as enplanements and deplanements moved largely in tandem in both August and September. September’s stronger bounce relative to August likely reflects the early return of convention, event, and golf traffic, along with airlines’ incremental capacity shifts for shoulder season.
For local hotels, restaurants, and attractions, PSP’s trajectory matters. Passenger counts are a bellwether for room nights, restaurant covers, and retail foot traffic. A clean September beat, after a positive August, suggests Greater Palm Springs enters peak season with firmer footing than many peer destinations that rely heavily on international arrivals or were hit by late-summer capacity trims.
The road into peak season
Airport planners will watch whether the September pace carries into October and November as schedules thicken and cooler weather pulls more visitors to the desert. The year-to-date cushion of +4.5% through September gives PSP some room to absorb fluctuations while it pursues steady growth through added domestic frequencies and seasonal service.
By the numbers: PSP August and September 2025
- August: 122,167 total passengers, +3.5% year over year. Enplanements 60,598 (+3.3%), deplanements 61,569 (+3.6%).
- September: 152,773 total passengers, +7.1% year over year. Enplanements 73,951 (+5.8%), deplanements 78,822 (+8.3%).
Context at other tourism airports
- Las Vegas (LAS): more than 4.5 million passengers in August.
- San Diego (SAN): 2,315,596 passengers in August, –0.6% year over year.
- Hawai‘i statewide: –2.6% visitor arrivals in August year over year.
Sources: Palm Springs International Airport Monthly Passenger Activity Report, September 2025; Harry Reid International Airport press materials; San Diego International Airport August 2025 air traffic report; Hawai‘i DBEDT visitor statistics; California tourism reporting on international trends.
