LOGINThe World Health Organization officially declared the end to the pandemic in May 2023, more than three years after its initial announcement in March 2020. With the introduction of the vaccine and the gradual lifting of restrictions over the past three years, Americans are trying to return to their pre-pandemic lifestyles, starting with their travel habits.
The pandemic years brought political and social change with them, which included the introduction of a bill which officially declared the observance of June 19th (Juneteenth) as a federal holiday in 2021. The addition of another holiday weekend during summer has helped boost domestic travel. Air travel in particular has recovered nicely according to Advan data, as projected passenger traffic numbers for 2022 surpass pre-pandemic figures at nearly 747,605 travelers during the weekend of Juneteenth, versus 222,216 travelers during the same weekend in 2020. 2021 was the first year we could observe the impact of the holiday on passenger traffic, with roughly 355,105 passengers choosing to travel that weekend. 2021 traffic saw a 37.4% increase from 2020, while 2022 traffic saw a 52.5% increase from 2021.With 2023 already surpassing pre-pandemic traffic levels, it remains to be seen whether this upward trajectory will continue at this rate as we move further away from the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis.
