Feeling the urge to travel again? You’re not alone. Passenger traffic, prices, bookings all up

Having you found yourself scrolling travel booking websites for the first time in a long time? If so, you’re not alone. Numerous measurements show travel is reaching levels not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Wednesday marked the tenth straight day the TSA screened at least a million passengers nationwide – the first time the agency marked that milestone since March 2020.

Gas prices are on the rise – now at a pandemic-high $2.84 average for a gallon of gas (the current average unleaded gallon in Ohio is $2.68)

And rental site VRBO reports a “recent spike in demand for vacation rentals,” which VRBRO says “might be the result of a larger part of the population – primarily seniors – who have been fully vaccinated.”

News Center 7 visited the Dayton International Airport Thursday, and found passengers venturing out for the first time in a while.

“We just decided to get on and get out of her for a little bit and see how it goes,” said Shane Compton, from Bethel Township. Compton and his wife were on their way to Arizona to catch the Cincinnati Reds at Spring Training.

“We’re just tired of being home,” they both said.

Meanwhile, Ryan Hurley, who traveled to Dayton from Ocean City, Md., said he noticed a stark contrast even from the holidays when he came to the Miami Valley.

“More (crowded) than Christmas, yeah,” Hurley said.

When it comes to travel trends locally, the Dayton airport has seen slight increases, but perhaps not the spike seen more broadly across the country.

“We’re on an uptick but it’s a slow uptick,” said Linda Hughes with Dayton International Airport, noting passenger traffic remains about 60 percent below pre-COVID levels.

Hughes said the airport is hoping for a bump in traffic, but only when it’s safe. Current CDC guidance still urges people not to travel if possible.

“We want to do everything we can here at the airport to make sure their travel is as safe and sterile as possible,” Hughes said.

Cox Media Group