Watch: Demolition begins on Concourse A at Memphis International Airport
Demolition started at Concourse A at the Memphis International Airport on July 8, 2025.
A new month will bring new flights to Memphis International Airport.
New routes to Knoxville, New York City and Pensacola, Florida, will launch in September at the airport.
The three new flights are expected to bring a boost in passenger numbers to the airport, which has seen a bit of a slowdown, according to Glen Thomas, communications director for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority.
“Thus far in August, our TSA checkpoint numbers reflect a slight decrease of about 2.5% compared to the same period in 2024,” Thomas said. “These numbers are reflective of a softening in recent demand across the industry and across all major airlines. Nonetheless, we continue to meet with airlines in our continual effort to secure additional air service and maintain existing service.”
So far in 2025, Memphis International Airport has announced plans for 10 new flights. Here is a closer look at the new routes coming to the airport in September.
Allegiant Air’s Memphis-to-Knoxville flight
Memphis residents traveling to Knoxville soon will have a new way to get there. Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air’s service between Memphis International and McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville starts Sept. 4.
The flight from the low-cost air carrier is expected to be a convenient option for University of Tennessee students and alumni in Memphis as it provides an alternative to driving. Kristen Schilling Gonzales, Allegiant’s vice president of planning and revenue, told The Commercial Appeal in June that the hope is the Knoxville route will be a reoccurring flight.
“Right now, the service is going through the college football season,” she said. “… We’re hopeful that as we see some pickup in the demand, then we’ll look at increase frequency on the new route (Knoxville) or with other existing routes we have (at MEM).”
Allegiant’s Memphis-to-Knoxville flight schedule
*Schedule is subject to change; flights operate on Sunday and Thursday
Memphis to Knoxville
Departs: 8:49 p.m. CST
Arrives: 11:08 p.m. EST
Knoxville to Memphis
Departs: 7:35 p.m. EST
Arrives: 7:59 p.m. CST
Breeze Airways’ Memphis-to-Pensacola flight
Utah-based, low-cost airline Breeze Airways plans to launch nonstop service between Memphis International Airport and Pensacola International Airport (PNS) on Sept. 5.
In May, Breeze Airways — which became the 10th airline to fly out of Memphis International — launched nonstop routes from Memphis to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Tampa International Airport (TPA), as well as a one-stop flight from Memphis to (Providence) Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD).
Breeze Airways’ Memphis-to-Pensacola flight schedule
*Schedule is subject to change; flights operate on Monday and Friday
Memphis to Pensacola
Departs: 5:48 p.m. CST
Arrives: 7:14 p.m. EST
Pensacola to Memphis
Departs: 3:35 p.m. EST
Arrives: 5:08 p.m. CST
Delta’s Memphis-to-New York City (JFK) flight
People traveling out of the Bluff City will soon have a new way to get to the Big Apple.
Delta Air Lines will begin daily nonstop service between Memphis International and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City on Sept. 8. The New York City market is the Memphis airport’s second largest, with 352 passengers traveling daily each way between the two cities, according to airport officials.
However, the JFK-MEM route won’t be year-round. Alex Koehlke of Delta’s global communications team told The Commercial Appeal in July that the flight will operate from Sept. 8 through Jan. 4. At that point, the route will pause for winter and resume on May 7, 2026. Koehlke said Delta routinely adjusts its schedule throughout the year to best serve customer demand. In the winter, Koehlke noted demand may be lower, which leads to the temporary pause in service of select markets.
Delta’s Memphis-to-New York City flight schedule
*Schedule is subject to change; flights will operate daily
Memphis to JFK
- Departs: 4:35 p.m. CST
- Arrives: 8:15 p.m. EST
JFK to Memphis
- Departs: 2 p.m. EST
- Arrives: 3:55 p.m. CST
Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.
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