[2] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 520,181 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2019,[3] and 487,000 in 2018.

Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is a hub for FedEx and UPS feeder planes to cities around the South Plains.

The CG-4A was the USAAF's primary glider, consisting of little more than a wooden and fabric shell, equipped with radio, wheels, and brakes.

Under Air Service Command, South Plains became a maintenance and supply depot for excess aircraft that could not be accommodated at Tinker.

After the war ended, in 1946 and 1947, South Plains was used as a storage facility for excess aircraft prior to their reclamation.

The original terminal now houses the Silent Wings Museum dedicated to World War II glider pilots.

By then Continental was flying nonstop to Dallas, Albuquerque, and El Paso however the flight to Tulsa still made stops at Wichita Falls, Lawton, and Oklahoma City.

[9][10] In spring 1966 Braniff BAC One-Elevens flew nonstop to Dallas Love Field and Amarillo, in addition to Lockheed L-188 Electra and Convair 340 flights, while Continental Douglas DC-9-10s flew nonstop to Dallas Love Field and El Paso in addition to Vickers Viscount flights.

[12] A 1976 OAG lists nonstop jets to Lubbock from Albuquerque, Amarillo, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), El Paso, Midland/Odessa and Wichita Falls and direct jets from Colorado Springs, Corpus Christi, Denver, Houston (IAH), Lawton, Los Angeles (LAX), Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Tulsa.

In 1983 Muse Air McDonnell Douglas MD-80s briefly flew nonstop to Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby Airport and Los Angeles (LAX).

The late 1970's and early 1980's also saw several commuter airlines; Crown Air flew to Clovis and Albuquerque, NM.

[17] The United Express service to Denver was transferred to Mesa Airlines through much of the 1990's and has been operated by several other regional carriers since then.

In 1987 America West Airlines began flying Boeing 737-200's nonstop from Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Midland/Odessa however this service ended in 1991.

[1][20] In the year ending May 31, 2022 the airport had 92,881 aircraft operations, average 254 per day: 55% general aviation, 17% air taxi, 14% airline, and 14% military.