Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has seen dramatic declines in passenger traffic since the COVID-19 pandemic took root across the globe. The declines for ABIA began when March numbers showed a 52-percent drop in passengers compared to March of 2019. While not unexpected, the hit was nevertheless a tough one considering that the month of March is typically one of the busiest of the year for Austin’s airport, in large part due to South by Southwest. Now, the latest figures are further highlighting the crippling impact coronavirus has had on air travel.
According to airport officials, the decline for April was nearly 100-percent from April of 2019. 96.6-percent, to be exact. The airport failed to clear 48,000 total passengers for the month, clocking in at an abysmal 47,781. One year prior, more than 1.4-million people flew into and out of Austin through ABIA.
While May’s numbers will almost certainly reflect the continued impact from COVID-19, the numbers are likely to trickle upward somewhat, although even as the summer gets into full-swing, the numbers are not expected to be anywhere close to a typical year.
From January to April, overall passenger traffic has plunged 36-percent from the same time last year.
