OAKLAND — Passengers have begun to return to Oakland International Airport in a big way with a huge surge in trips through the East Bay travel hub in May, the airport said Tuesday in a sign that coronavirus-linked economic slumps have eased.
Passenger travel through the Oakland airport totaled roughly 105,600 trips during May, a dramatic increase from the 45,800 passenger trips in April.
“I’m very pleased to see passenger traffic returning, and credit my team for its active engagement throughout the recent unprecedented declines,” said Bryant Francis, Oakland’s director of aviation.
May passenger trips soared 130 percent higher than April, according to Oakland aviation officials. But they were far from what they were in May 2019, when the airport had 1.14 million passenger trips. Last month’s trips were down 91 percent compared to the same month in 2019.
“Our terminals and operations are in great shape, and we are focused on ensuring that as passengers continue to return, that they enjoy the safe, efficient experience they have come to expect and love at Oakland International Airport,” Francis said.
Widespread shutdowns and restrictions ordered by state and local government agencies nationally and worldwide triggered a catastrophic collapse in business and leisure travel that was exacerbated by nervous travelers who shunned airports, which prompted air carriers to slash flights.
Still, plenty of signs have emerged that airport traffic will continue to rally in Oakland with the summer travel season now under way. A number of airlines, notably the most active carrier that serves Oakland airport, are planning to increase their flights
“The upward trend is expected to continue through June 2020 with Southwest Airlines increasing its flight schedule at Oakland International Airport by about 25 daily departures to more than 60 in total,” the airport stated.
