FridayAugust 22, 2025

Now boarding for Florida: QC-to-Sarasota flights begin

By: Dave Thompson|February 13, 2025
|4 min read
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    • QCIA passenger counts

    Benjamin Leischner, executive director of Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, shows a pair of the colorful sunglasses given to passengers taking the first Allegiant flight from the Quad Cities to Sarasota, Florida, on Thursday, Feb. 13. The Quad Cities International Airport (QCIA) saw an 11% year-over-year increase in passenger counts in March 2025, compared to March 2024. Total enplanements last month also marked the Moline airport’s highest monthly total since December 2019. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON

    Ross Hendriks was looking forward to his trip to Sarasota, Florida, as he waited Thursday morning, Feb. 13, near Gate B10 at the Quad Cities International Airport (QCIA) in Moline.

    He was dressed for Florida. As all of his fellow passengers were wearing heavy coats and gloves for another cold, snowy day in the Quad Cities, Mr. Hendriks was…

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