AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) saw a significant increase in passenger traffic this September compared to last year.
According to AUS officials, Austin's airport passenger traffic was up 190.2% in September 2021 compared to September 2020. A total of 1,210,339 people traveled through AUS this September, officials said in a press release Monday.
Here is a breakdown of Austin airport travelers by airline in September 2021:
- Southwest Airlines passengers totaled 424,201, up 187.6%
- American Airlines passengers totaled 284,274, up 178.6%
- Delta Air Lines passengers totaled 165,373, up 229.7%
- United Airlines passengers totaled 154,992, up 220.4%
- Alaska Airlines passengers totaled 63,794, up 245.8%
- Spirit Airlines passengers totaled 50,488, up 121.4%
- JetBlue Airways passengers totaled 30,487, up 271.8%
- Frontier Airlines passengers totaled 15,920, up 17.9%
- Allegiant Air passengers totaled 12,385, up 222.1%
- Aeromexico passengers totaled 4,282
- Hawaiian Airlines passengers totaled 2,844
- Sun Country Airlines passengers totaled 1,135, down 46.8%
- Swift Air passengers totaled 164
For the entirety of 2021, Austin's airport has still seen an increase in travelers, but at a lower rate than comparing solely September year-over-year. AUS officials said passenger traffic was up 79.4% from January to September compared to the same timeframe a year ago.
These numbers could continue to climb, as the U.S. announced Monday it will reopen travel to fully vaccinated foreign nationals. The new policy allows foreign nationals over the age of 18 to visit the U.S. by showing proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test within three days of boarding a flight to the country. Kids are exempt from the vaccination rule, but ages 2 to 17 are required to get a negative test before visiting.
U.S. airlines are seeing a major surge in international bookings with the policy change. Austin’s third-busiest airline, Delta, reported a 450% spike in international bookings compared to the six weeks prior to the change being announced. United Airlines expected 50% more international inbound arrivals on Nov. 8 compared to Nov. 1, when the airline had about 20,000 international inbound passengers, according to data provided by the airline.
Face coverings continue to be required at airports and on flights under a federal mandate that’s in place through at least Jan. 18, 2022.
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