Show notes
On today's show I sat down with Julie Curtis, VP of marketing and air service development at South Bend International Airport, about its growth and operations. We discuss SBN surpassing 1.1 million passengers in 2025 (best since 1997), how air service development works (retaining routes, adding new ones, addressing "leakage" to Chicago), and the airport's current nonstop network of 16 destinations on five airlines (American, Delta, United, Allegiant, and Breeze). She explains Breeze's 2024 launch in South Bend and the American-Landline luxury motor coach connection that functions gate-to-gate between SBN and O'Hare. Our conversation also covers Notre Dame game-week surges, ramp improvements enabling mainline aircraft at all gates, the SBN Up Front front-drive modernization project, the South Shore rail station at the terminal, and how airports operate like "mini cities" with many independent tenants and agencies. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - South Bend International Airport's Growth and Record 2025 - How Air Service Development Works - SBN's Nonstop Network - How Airports are Like Mini Cities Thank you to our partners: NCW Rohrman Automotive Group Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Airports Like Mini Cities 01:19 Guest Introduction: Julie Curtis, South Bend International Airport 02:43 Julie's Path To SBN 03:52 Becoming International 04:46 What Air Service Means 07:13 Routes Airlines And Breeze 10:37 Fighting Chicago Leakage 12:33 American Landline Coach 16:45 Record Year And 90s Peak 18:13 Notre Dame Game Day Surge 24:09 Misconceptions And Hubs 25:51 SBN Up Front Project 29:37 Multimodal Hub And Staffing 31:43 Airport Authority Ecosystem 34:15 Who Runs What 35:15 TSA Partnership Reality 36:33 Airport Staffing Web 37:12 Concessions Expansion 39:36 Airport Marketing Goals 42:00 Business Travel Mix 42:50 Why Indiana Sticks 44:10 South Bend Glow Up 48:07 Tourist Weekend Pitch 50:19 Travel Perks Myth 51:17 Snack Rules And Hacks 53:05 Indiana Favorites Finale Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.