Plenty of people have started traveling for Thanksgiving, and the Sacramento International Airport, or SMF, is forecasting that its passenger numbers could get back to pre-pandemic levels a little sooner than expected. Given the way the numbers have been trending throughout the year, the airport expects traffic levels to be back to normal by the end of next year.Last month marked the second time this year that more than a million passengers came through SMF. The first time was in July, which has been the busiest travel month at SMF in 2021 so far.Numbers naturally took a nosedive when much of the world was shut down due to restrictions and lockdowns caused by COVID-19.“This excellent traffic result is a testament to the resiliency of the SMF market during the COVID recovery,” said Cindy Nichol, Director of airports for Sacramento County. “We are excited to welcome travelers back and to be part of providing them a safe, convenient and memorable travel experience.” | MORE | Interactive: How common are bird strikes at the Sacramento International Airport?Nationwide, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers screened more than 2.2 million people on Friday.”It’s the highest checkpoint volume since passenger volume tanked in early 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The Thanksgiving travel period has begun!” TSA Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein announced on Twitter.Travelers at the airport are noticing the change.”The last few trips we’ve taken, the airports are crowded. Planes are full,” Mary Brooke Denbigh, a traveler at SMF, said. “I feel like it’s gotten really busy.”
Plenty of people have started traveling for Thanksgiving, and the Sacramento International Airport, or SMF, is forecasting that its passenger numbers could get back to pre-pandemic levels a little sooner than expected.
Given the way the numbers have been trending throughout the year, the airport expects traffic levels to be back to normal by the end of next year.
Last month marked the second time this year that more than a million passengers came through SMF. The first time was in July, which has been the busiest travel month at SMF in 2021 so far.
Numbers naturally took a nosedive when much of the world was shut down due to restrictions and lockdowns caused by COVID-19.
“This excellent traffic result is a testament to the resiliency of the SMF market during the COVID recovery,” said Cindy Nichol, Director of airports for Sacramento County. “We are excited to welcome travelers back and to be part of providing them a safe, convenient and memorable travel experience.”
| MORE | Interactive: How common are bird strikes at the Sacramento International Airport?
Nationwide, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers screened more than 2.2 million people on Friday.
“It’s the highest checkpoint volume since passenger volume tanked in early 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The Thanksgiving travel period has begun!” TSA Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein announced on Twitter.
Travelers at the airport are noticing the change.
“The last few trips we’ve taken, the airports are crowded. Planes are full,” Mary Brooke Denbigh, a traveler at SMF, said. “I feel like it’s gotten really busy.”