OIA: Passenger traffic for holiday travel projected to top 2019 levels

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By Jeff Deal and Matt Reeser

ORLANDO, Fla. — Newly released figures show passenger traffic at Orlando International Airport has continued to climb.

Airport officials said they saw a 250% increase in passenger traffic in July, compared to the same time in 2020.

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Orlando International has been one of the top airports for passenger traffic since travel restrictions were lifted earlier this year.

Officials believe if the trend continues, the Labor Day weekend could be even bigger than 2019.

Tom Draper, senior director of airport operations, said they have seen some slowdown in traffic because of students returning to school and concerns of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

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“I think it’s still strong. I think that folks are still traveling, I think that everybody is being safe and cautious,” he said.

Draper said the drop-off in travel from COVID-19 concerns is nothing like they saw in 2020, and heading into the Labor Day weekend, projections are good.

“Looking at the bookings that the airlines have, it looks like we could be a little bit better than in 2019,” Draper said.

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Officials expect just over 300,000 departing passengers from Wednesday through next Tuesday.

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

Orlando International Airport throughout the years From its early days as McCoy AFB to one of the busiest airports take a look a these photographs from OIA (Orlando International Airport)

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