Travel Increases At BWI, Suggests Vacations Are Returning

LINTHICUM, MD — Daily travel at Baltimore/Washington International Airport is back on the rise, officials said. This suggests that Marylanders are starting to feel more comfortable flying for vacations.

Nearly 16,000 passengers went through security checkpoints on March 4. That was the highest total since Dec. 27, 2020. Despite the spike, officials expect travel to remain well below prepandemic levels for some time.

Travelers, however, think vacations are on the upswing.

A Destination Analysts survey found that 36 percent of participants think travel will get back to normal this summer. Another 42 percent predicted it will be all set by the fall. Though 14 percent of respondents plan to vacation for spring break, 60 percent plan to travel for fun within the next three months.

With deals abound, AAA travel agents have seen heavy interest in Florida, Mexico and other Caribbean destinations. Those who don't want to fly have opted for road trips to national parks, the agency added.

"As the vaccine continues to roll out across the country, travel dreams are beginning to optimistically seem more realistic," John Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s manager of public and government affairs, said in a press release. "This summer and fall will see more people traveling, addressing their need to get away for a break from everyday stressors."

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This trend comes as the Transportation Security Administration has upped its coronavirus prevention efforts at airports across the country.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Feb. 2 requiring travelers to mask up. The TSA reported nearly 100 percent compliance with the rule.

Security officials have also encouraged their frontline officers to get the coronavirus vaccine. The organization additionally installed contactless scanners in many airports to reduce potential transmission.

"There is no higher priority than our operational readiness as well as the health and safety of our workforce and the traveling public," Darby LaJoye, senior official performing the duties of the TSA administrator, said in a press release.

BWI took it a step further. The airport installed a real-time physical distancing tracker on Jan. 22. The digital billboard at security checkpoint B alerts travelers when they are standing too close in line.

"BWI Marshall Airport has implemented many measures to help protect passengers and employees," Executive Director Ricky Smith said in a press release. "This innovation provides real-time data on passenger flow so we can notify travelers and manage separation."

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RELATED:

• BWI Adds Real-Time Social Distancing Tracker At Security Checkpoint

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