The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport saw a 9% decrease in August 2021 traffic versus July 2021. August 2021 saw 45,726 passengers fly via ROA compared to 50,546 in July 2021, a decrease of 4,820 passengers. The airport's decrease of 4,820 passengers from July to August equates to 155 fewer passengers flying each day. Leisure travel winding down, schools opening, and the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 drove traffic down compared to July.
The airport saw an increase in August 2021 traffic of 110% on a year-over-year basis; however, when compared to August 2019, traffic decreased 25%. August 2021 saw 45,726 passengers fly via ROA compared to 61,093 in August 2019, a decrease of 15,367 passengers from pre-pandemic traffic levels.
"Passengers are more comfortable with the measures taken by the airports and airlines to ensure their safety," stated David Jeavons, interim executive director of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission. "Due to the Delta variant, airlines are seeing bookings decrease during the third quarter and this will impact travel overall. As this variant subsides, and as airlines rebuild their schedules, it is critical to use our current service not only to keep it but also to have more restored and help our regional economy recover. Air service will be even more important when our business customers return to the sky. We continue to appreciate the community support for choosing ROA and not driving out of the market to fly."
The commission works with the airlines to improve the air service that serves the region. We are open and operational if the public needs to fly and have implemented enhanced cleaning protocols, as have our airlines, to make air travel as safe as possible. The commission sincerely thanks our customers for choosing to fly ROA.
