Summer travel and added flights double passengers at Oakland International Airport
Resiliency efforts continue as passenger traffic rebounds amid pandemic
Oakland, Calif. - July 31, 2020: Oakland International Airport (OAK) announced its latest passenger traffic data revealing significant increases in passenger activity for the month of June when compared to the previous month. Following seismic shifts in travel patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OAK instituted a Resiliency Task Force to monitor, plan, and employ safety initiatives during business recovery. Efforts are being made across the Airport’s numerous departments— including an Airport Marketing campaign to encourage East Bay travelers to Fly Oakland First when they return to the skies.
COVID-19 impacts to the Aviation industry began in March, as the number of passengers plummeted worldwide. At its lowest in April, OAK reported only 4% of its normal passenger traffic, growing to 9% in May. As travel patterns increase with the arrival of summer, June saw over 141% more passengers than in May, though still representing just 21% of the year ago totals:
|
JUNE 2020 |
MAY 2020 |
JUNE 2019 |
|
255,052 |
105,593 |
1,221,824 |
|
|
+/-1 MONTH |
+/-1 YEAR |
|
|
141.54% |
-79.13% |
In July, OAK welcomed added frequencies on Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, and Volaris following several months of COVID-19 related schedule reductions. Hawaiian Airlines’ plans to resume daily nonstop service to Honolulu, Lihue, and Kahului on August 1 were postponed after a several-month suspension due to the Aloha State’s delay in implementing a plan to reopen the state’s tourism economy. The requirements for arriving travelers to undergo 14-day quarantine will remain in place until at least September 1. Delta Air Lines, which suspended OAK service in May, has indicated plans to resume twice-daily nonstop service to Salt Lake City in mid-September. Flights are now available for sale.
Southwest offered over 75 peak day departures in July and planned to increase its schedule to approximately 90 peak day flights at OAK in August – representing approximately 75% of its Summer 2019 schedule. With nationwide demand for air travel showing signs of weakening, however, Southwest will no longer introduce an increased schedule at OAK in August.
Director of Aviation, Bryant L. Francis said, “While the June statistics are an improvement over what we experienced in April and May, activity remains far below where it should be for the historically busy summer travel season. Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases within California and nationally, we remain concerned about the fragility of the air travel market. If would-be travelers don’t feel comfortable and confident, they won’t fly. We remain committed to doing our part in providing a positive air travel experience through enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols.”
Passengers should check with their airlines for rules and guidance for travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. All passengers are encouraged to arrive at the Airport with a face covering in compliance with applicable state and county orders. All flight schedules are subject to change; we recommend checking schedules regularly prior to the date of travel.
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the closest airport to a majority of the nearly 8 million Bay Area residents, and the closest airport to the region’s wealth of business and tourism venues. The vision of Oakland International Airport is to be the airport of choice for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in the region with more than a $130 billion economic impact. For departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.oaklandairport.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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