The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport saw a 8% increase in July 2021 traffic versus June 2021. July 2021 saw 50,546 passengers fly via ROA compared to 46,654 in June 2021, an increase of 3,892 passengers. The airport's increase of 3,892 passengers from June to July equates to 125 more passengers flying each day. Leisure travel continues to rebound, which drove traffic up compared to June.
The airport saw an increase in July 2021 traffic of 140% on a year-over-year basis; however, when compared to July 2019, traffic decreased 17%. July 2021 saw 50,546 passengers fly via ROA compared to 61,627 in July 2019, a decrease of 11,081 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. "Lower overall airfare has stimulated leisure demand, 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."
A Sept. 1 ROA news release states: "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."
