Civic Register
| 7.24.20
Travelers Slowly Returning to Airports Amid Pandemic
Would you feel comfortable travelling on an airliner at the current stage of the pandemic?
This content leverages data from USAFacts, a non-profit that visualizes governmental data. You can learn more on its website, Facebook, and Twitter.
What’s the story?
- The air travel industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with far fewer travelers passing through airports across the country in recent months compared to a year ago.
- While data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) shows that air travel this summer is still well behind where it was in early 2020 or last summer, travelers are gradually starting to return to the friendly skies, in part because of safety measures being taken by airports & airlines.
- The COVID-19 outbreak had an immediate and significant impact on air travel, as April 2020 saw 10 separate days with fewer than 100,000 passengers passing through checkpoints. This chart from USAFacts shows the 7-day average of TSA screenings from March through July:
- During the July 10-16 period, the TSA screened an average of 670,664 passengers per day ― an amount 74% lower than the 2.6 million average during the same week in 2019. The day with the highest passenger screening throughput during the rebound was July 2, 2020, with 764,761 passengers screened.
- Airports across the country have been similarly impacted by the pandemic-induced slowdown, but some are marginally closer to their 2019 levels than others. This chart from USAFacts shows traffic levels during the period of June 21-27, 2020, to the same week in 2019:
- The airport that was closest to its 2019 levels that week was Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, with about 36% of its passenger traffic from the prior year, followed by Tampa International at 32% & Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International at 30%.
- You can compare the March-June trend in TSA screenings at 25 of the largest airports in the U.S. using the interactive USAFacts chart below:
RELATED READING
- Airlines Devastated by Pandemic Use CARES Act to Keep Workers on Payroll
- Should Airlines Be Required to Offer Cash Refunds to Customers for Flights Canceled Due to COVID-19?
— Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: iStock.com / doble-d)
The Latest
-
Biden Signs Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan Aid, and TikTok BillWhat’s the story? President Joe Biden signed a bill that approved aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which could lead to a ban read more... Taiwan
-
Protests Grow Nationwide as Students Demand Divestment From IsraelUpdated Apr. 23, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST Protests are growing on college campuses across the country, inspired by the read more... Advocacy
-
IT: Here's how you can help fight for justice in the U.S., and... 📱 Are you concerned about your tech listening to you?Welcome to Thursday, April 18th, communities... Despite being deep into the 21st century, inequity and injustice burden the U.S. read more...
-
Restore Freedom and Fight for Justice With GravvyDespite being deep into the 21st century, inequity and injustice burden the U.S., manifesting itself in a multitude of ways. read more... Criminal Justice Reform