Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing its pre-pandemic passenger numbers for the first time. This achievement signals a promising step towards the recovery of travel amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Last month, LAX recorded two days where it screened more passengers than it did in 2019. On October 9th, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened 111,017 passengers, compared to 107,675 in 2019. The following day, October 10th, saw 94,686 passengers screened, slightly surpassing the 94,211 from 2019.
This accomplishment is partly attributed to increased load factors, which means more available seats on current LAX flights. However, despite this positive development, available seats on these flights are still only at 88% of pre-pandemic levels.
Presently, LAX offers flights to 85 domestic destinations, down from 93 in 2019, and 75 international destinations, a decrease from 83 in 2019.
The interim CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, Bea Hsu, expressed her excitement regarding this significant milestone. She stated, The remarkable achievement of surpassing pre-pandemic passenger volume is something that Los Angeles World Airports celebrates alongside our employees, guests, and airport partners.
Over the past few years, the airport has been diligently working on building resiliency and laying a foundation for full recovery. As we enter the fall travel season, passenger numbers are already reaching the highest levels seen since 2019. LAX remains optimistic and anticipates more record-setting days as they welcome passengers during the upcoming Thanksgiving and winter holidays.
In a related development, London’s Heathrow Airport recently reported its highest-ever September passenger figures, surpassing the equivalent period in 2019 for the first time since February 2020. This positive trend in passenger numbers aligns with the Airports Council International (ACI World) forecast, which predicts a significant recovery in global passenger traffic. They expect 2024 to be a milestone year, with figures reaching 9.4 billion passengers, surpassing the 9.2 billion recorded in 2019.
As the world gradually emerges from the grips of the pandemic, airports worldwide are witnessing a resurgence in passenger numbers. The progress made at LAX and Heathrow serves as an encouraging sign for the travel industry, which has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. With airports prioritizing safety measures and implementing robust protocols, travelers can look forward to a gradual return to a sense of normalcy in the aviation sector.
