Hectic Traveling During Spring Break

Southwest+Airlines+737+arriving+back+at+Portland+International+Airport%2C+located+in+Portland%2C+Oregon.

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Southwest Airlines 737 arriving back at Portland International Airport, located in Portland, Oregon.

CJ Bennett, Writer

Air Travel during the 2023 spring break, looking to surpass levels from the COVID-19 air travel. This is the first year travelers will not have COVID related mandates and restrictions to prevent them from traveling. According to Airlines for America, “This year, there are more than 150 million passengers that are expected to travel for the 2023 spring break. This will surpass 2019 levels tremendously”. Three days prior to the Christmas holidays, 10,000 flights were canceled and over 22,000 flights were delayed due to many challenges and weather conditions, not allowing passengers to travel and see their families.

As spring approaches, travel rates are predicted to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Chad Cotter, general manager for Aura Travel powered by Totally Trips, said, “Our pre-sales are better right now than they were pre-COVID”. He would also add, “I think the main reason is a lot of the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed in 2022 and all these people that hadn’t traveled for so long are finally feeling safe to get out and travel. It’s causing all travel to rise, not just spring break. Spring break is always busy, but I see all travel to be at record levels this year.”

COVID-19 had a large impact on air traveling. Not just in the US, but all around the world. In April 2020 air travel was 96% lower than air travel in April 2019, and it stayed 60% below the 2019 levels in 2020. COVID-19, would also affect the airports, repair shops, and the supply chains. In 2020 tourist arrivals would also be decreased by more than 65%.

COVID-19, impacted a lot of things throughout the world, especially the Air Traveling industry. But since the large outbreak, numbers have been increasing over time, and have skyrocketed during spring break. The country looks to be going back to normal with air traveling, as there are less mandates and restrictions that affected everyone due to COVID-19.