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For the second straight month in a row, more than 1 million people traveled through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in June, and July is likely to see even more travelers embarking on long-awaited vacations after months of pandemic routines.
A total of 1,370,666 passengers traveled through Austin Airport in June, up about 370% from the same month last year when the number fell when the coronavirus first hit the United States. The month’s numbers are also up from last May when 1,106,710 passengers passed through the airport.
Total passenger traffic between January and June of this year was 4,812,587 travelers, 30% more than in the same period in 2020.
Only 291,578 people traveled through Austin Airport last June.
The airport may attribute the surge in passenger traffic – which is still below pre-pandemic levels in June 2019, when 1,609,397 people traveled through the airport – to a surge in vaccinations that have allowed countries to take tourists back in and out to initiate a return to vacation and leisure travel.
Many postponed their vacation plans last year because of the coronavirus, and this is how the airport is seeing travelers taking summer trips again, said airport spokesman Bryce Dubee.
Although Austin has traditionally been overrun with visitors for the South by Southwest series of festivals in the spring and sporting events in the fall, summer is usually a busier time for the airport as July sees the most passenger traffic year round.
The numbers are still lower than the airport’s 2019 and 2018, but passenger numbers for June that year could be higher than for June 2017, Dubee said.
“There’s a lot going on at the airport,” he said.
Though monthly July passenger numbers are unlikely to be released until next month, Dubee said he could say the month will be anecdotally busier than June.
“July is always our busiest month of the year and we expect it to be busier than June,” he said.
Dubee said it would be surprising if the July number topped the 2018 records, but it could come close. In July 2018, a total of 1,511,634 passengers traveled through the airport. July 2019 was the busiest month in the history of the airport with 1,643,016 passengers.
With a view to autumn, airport officials are keeping an eye on what is happening to the delta variant of the coronavirus and recording things day in and day out.
“It’s certainly encouraging what we’re seeing, but we know what we learned last year: we were on track to have our best year ever in February 2020 and then had the worst year ever,” said Dubee .
Passenger numbers usually decrease in September when students return to school and the summer holidays end. The airport has yet to see the return of business travelers as well, Dubee said.
But for now, with weeks of summer remaining, travelers should be prepared for long lines at check-in and airport security.
Leisure travelers often check in more luggage and come in larger groups, so people should take plenty of time and arrive at least two hours before their flight.
How to travel during the pandemic
According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Fully vaccinated travelers
• You must still wear a mask over your nose and mouth when traveling on airplanes, buses, trains, and other public transport.
• Should also follow local recommendations such as social distancing.
• Should be aware of symptoms of COVID-19 after traveling and get tested if they develop symptoms.
Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers
• Should be tested with a virus test one to three days before a trip, the CDC said.
• Should wear a mask and social distance when traveling. You should also avoid crowds and wash your hands frequently.
• Should get tested three to five days after a trip and then stay at home and in quarantine for seven days. You should also watch out for COVID-19 symptoms.
Unvaccinated people who do not get tested after the trip should stay at home and quarantine for 10 days.
The CDC said that unvaccinated people should avoid being around people at increased risk of serious illness for 14 days, whether or not they are tested.
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