COLUMBUS – Air travel volume at Columbus’ airports is climbing toward its summer cruising altitude.
Sunday was the busiest day for John Glenn Columbus and Rickenbacker International airports since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 12,000 passengers departing that day, said Joseph Nardone, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
Airlines are starting new routes to meet peak summer demand: United’s seasonal service to Charleston, Hilton Head Island and Portland, Maine, began flying Memorial Day weekend.
Allegiant’s twice-weekly flights to Norfolk began June 3, daily service to Los Angeles began June 8 on Spirit Airlines, which adds flights to Pensacola Friday.
Southwest begins offering new flights to Miami on Saturday and has also launched new flights to Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach, Fla.
Although pandemic health precautions and restrictions have been lifted in many sates and cities, including Columbus, passengers are still required to wear masks in airports and on airplanes under a Transportation Security Administration security directive, which remains in effect.