BANGOR, Maine — It may come as no surprise the airline industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in Maine, however, airport directors report seeing more passengers.
"Over the past few months we were pretty consistently in the five to seven hundred passenger a day range," Zachary Sundquist, assistant airport director of Portland International Jetport, said.
Sundquist said the jetport has seen an increase of twelve to fifteen hundred people a day in July. Although this is an increase from previous months, it's only 26% of passengers the airport was serving last July.
The Bangor International Airport (BGR) has been tracking an increase in passengers as well.
"The numbers are improving slow and steady," Bangor International Airport Director Tony Caruso said. "This past month of June, we were down 78%."
This is an improvement compared to the month of April. The Bangor International Airport was down 95% compared to the same month last year.
Caruso credits improved safety measures for the rise in passengers.
"We've all instituted those CDC recommendations in terms of safety measures. You know, masks, social distancing, and signage," he said.
Presque Isle International Airport Director Scott Wardwell (IAD) is reporting the airport is only seeing 20% of typical passengers. Currently, the airport's service is only United Airlines to Washington Dulles International Airport.