For the second consecutive month, more than 1 million people traveled through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in June, and it's likely July recorded even more travelers as they head to long-awaited vacations after months of pandemic routines.

A total of 1,370,666 passengers traveled through the Austin airport in June, which is up about 370% from the same month last year, when numbers dropped as the coronavirus first raged throughout the United States. The month's numbers are also up from this past May, when 1,106,710 passengers traveled through the airport.

Total passenger traffic between January and June of this year was 4,812,587 travelers, up 30% compared to the total in the same period in 2020.

Only 291,578 people traveled through the Austin airport last June.

The airport can attribute the rise in passenger traffic — which is still short of the pre-pandemic June 2019 level when 1,609,397 people traveled through the airport — to a surge in vaccinations that have allowed countries to resume accepting tourists and ushered in a return to vacations and leisure trips.

Many put off vacation plans last year because of the coronavirus, and so the airport is seeing travelers return to taking summer trips, said airport spokesman Bryce Dubee.

Even though Austin traditionally has been overrun by visitors for the South by Southwest series of festivals in the spring and sports events in the fall, summer is typically a busier time for the airport, with July seeing the most passenger traffic all year.

Numbers are still down from where the airport was in 2019 and 2018, but June's passenger numbers this year managed to be above those for June 2017, Dubee said.

"It is very busy at the airport," he said.

Although July's monthly passenger total will not be out until likely next month, Dubee said he could share that, anecdotally, the month will be busier than June.

"July is always our busiest month of the year and we do anticipate that it'll be busier than what we were seeing in June," he said.

Dubee said it would be surprising if July's number surpassed what was recorded in 2018, but it may come close. In July 2018, a total of 1,511,634 passengers traveled through the airport. July 2019 marked the busiest month in airport history when 1,643,016 passengers were recorded.

Looking ahead to the fall, airport officials are keeping an eye on what is happening with the delta variant of the coronavirus and taking things day by day.

"It's certainly encouraging what we're seeing, but we do know what we learned last year: We were on track in February 2020 to have our best year ever and then had the worst year ever," Dubee said.

Passenger numbers typically drop off in September as students return to school and summer vacations end. The airport has yet to see the return of business travelers, too, Dubee said.

But for now, with weeks of summer left, Dubee said travelers should be prepared for long lines at airport check-in and security.

Leisure travelers often check more luggage and come in larger groups, so Dubee said people should give themselves 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

** Must still wear a mask over their nose and mouth on planes, buses, trains and other public transportation while traveling.

** Should also follow local recommendations like social distancing.

** Should watch for symptoms of COVID-19 after traveling and get tested if they develop any symptoms.

Unvaccinated or partly vaccinated travelers

** Should get tested with a viral test one to three days before a trip, the CDC said.

** Should wear a mask and social distance while traveling. They should avoid crowds, as well, and wash their hands often.

** Should get tested three to five days after a trip and stay home and quarantine for seven days after. They should also monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.

Unvaccinated people who do not get tested after traveling should stay home and quarantine for 10 days.

The CDC said unvaccinated people should also avoid being around people who are at an increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether they get tested or not.

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