A steep decline in air travel is one of many shifts in culture caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. With California and many other states under Shelter in Place orders since mid-March, Oakland International Airport now reports that it experienced a 96 percent decline in passenger traffic during the month of April, compared with April 2019.
April 2020 represented the first full month of COVID-19 impact, with 45,819 total passengers at OAK. This is a 90 percent decline when compared with 451,799 passengers served in March 2020, and a 96% decline from the 1,136,370 passengers served in April 2019.
MONTHLY PASSENGER TOTALS:
APRIL 2020
45,819
MARCH 2020
451,799
1 MONTH DECLINE
-89.86%
APRIL 2019
1,136,370
1 YEAR DECLINE
-95.97%
Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Bryant L. Francis said, “Our team remains focused on safety in all facets of the Airport’s operation, whether related to our terminal, parking, roadways, or airfield as we navigate through the ever-changing environment. While passenger traffic levels are severely hampered, we understand the decline is a necessary sacrifice many are making in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. We know travelers will eventually return in greater numbers, and they can have confidence in our preparedness to welcome them back when they are ready.”
The Airport said that it is focused on ensuring travelers and workers feel safe and comfortable at OAK, both now and once travel restrictions are lifted. A Resiliency Task Force has been instituted at the Airport to assess, plan, and deliver the Airport’s response to COVID-19 and address needs for recovery. Updates include floor-markings, face-covering requirements, seat-spacing to allow social distancing, and plexiglass guards at ticketing and check-in counters.
With the summer travel season commencing with the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, the Airport said that it is seeing an increase in scheduled weekly departures through June, however, it is still too early to know how the pandemic will continue to affect travelers’ plans.
