Coronavirus: Austin Airport Traffic Takes A HIt

AUSTIN, TX — Passenger traffic at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport took a nosedive in terms of passenger traffic as travel has been stilled due to the spread of coronavirus, officials said Tuesday.

In March 2020, passenger traffic decreased by 52.1 percent compared to the comparable period last year, offiicals detailed in an email. All told, there were 700,655 passengers flying this past March, officials added.

Each airline has taken a hit as the respiratory illness continues its reach, from an 11.4 drop for Sun Country Airlines to more than 81 percent for VivaAerobus.

In terms of passenger activity, total passenger traffic for March 2020 was 700,655 down 52.1 percent compared to March 2019. March 2020 enplanements totaled 349,457, down 51.8 percent. Here's a breakdown per air carrier:

• Southwest Airlines passengers totaled 220,640, down 55.6 percent.
• American Airlines passengers totaled 130,012, down 52.2 percent.
• United Airlines passengers totaled 102,737, down 54.1 percent.
• Delta Air Lines passengers totaled 92,648, down 53.3 percent.
• Spirit Airlines passengers totaled 56,414, down 19.3 percent.
• JetBlue Airways passengers totaled 26,139, down 48.9 percent.
• Alaska Airlines passengers 24.156, down 52.6 percent.
• Frontier Airlines passengers totaled 26,343, down 40.8 percent.
• British Airways passengers totaled 5,145, down 67.2 percent.
• Lufthansa passengers totaled 2,246 (no percentage decrease given).
• Allegiant Air passengers totaled 6,844, down 67 percent.
• AeroMexico passengers totaled 2,319, down 25.1 percent.
• Air Canada passengers totaled 1,995, down 62.9 percent.
• Norwegian Air, passengers totaled 2,327, down 69.6 percent.
• Sun Country Airlines passengers totaled 372, up 11.4 percent.
• VivaAerobus passengers totaled 197; and Miami Air passengers totaled 121, down 81.4 percent.

Cargo traffic also was down, although not as steeply. March 2020 air cargo totaled 14,928,170 pounds, down 0.7 percent compared to the comparable period the previous year. International cargo totaled 1,229,778 pounds, down 25.7 percent.

The cargo breakdown:

• Federal Express carried 7,634,300 lbs., down 8.9 percent.
• United Parcel Service carried 2,701,091 lbs., down 13.1 percent.
• Air Services transferred 797,539 lbs. of mail, down 8.7 percent and 1,432,093 lbs. of belly freight, down 25.6 percent.
• Aircraft Operations: General Aviation operations totaled 2,219, down 41.6 percent. Combined operations (including commercial and military) totaled 13,989, down 23 percent.