Airport's passenger traffic in August sits at 43% of 2019 level

SARASOTA — For the second month in a row, passenger traffic at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport remained at 43% of the 2019 level. 

Passengers totaled 58,115 for August compared to 135,467 passengers in August 2019, according to a press release. Year-to-date figures show airport passenger traffic is down 34% compared to 2019 with 834,545 passengers using the airport so far this year.

But despite the pandemic, SRQ continues to outpace the national average, the release adds. Nationwide, the TSA reported the screening checkpoint throughput for August at 29% of the 2019 level. 

Airlines serving SRQ are bringing back flights that were either temporarily suspended or were only seasonal. 

In September, Allegiant Air will resume service to two destinations, including Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago Rockford, Ill. For October, JetBlue returns with flights to Boston, New York City and Newark, N.J. Allegiant will resume nonstop service to Nashville, Tenn., United resumes nonstop service to Washington-Dulles, and Air Canada starts nonstop service to Toronto. 

"With 36 nonstop destinations now available to book online, we hope that when travelers are ready to fly again, they will choose SRQ,” says Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, in the statement.