September 2021 traffic decreased 1.9% versus August 2021

Roanoke VA., October 28, 2021 – The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport saw a 1.9% decrease in September 2021 traffic versus August 2021. September 2021 saw 44,824 passengers fly via ROA compared to 45,726 in August 2021, a decrease of 902 passengers. The airport's decrease of 902 passengers from August to September equates to 30 fewer passengers flying each day. Less leisure travel and the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 drove traffic down compared to August.

The airport saw an increase in September 2021 traffic of 106.9% on a year-over-year basis; however, when compared to September 2019, traffic decreased 25.6%. September 2021 saw 44,824 passengers fly via ROA compared to 60,253 in September 2019, a decrease of 15,429 passengers from pre-pandemic traffic levels.

"People still want to get out and travel. They are comfortable with the measures taken by airports and airlines to ensure their safety," stated Mike Stewart, executive director of the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission. "Due to the start of school and the Delta variant, we saw traffic slow in September but this was to be expected and shouldn’t impact travel overall in the near term.  As this variant subsides, and airlines rebuild their schedules, it is critical to use our current service not only to keep it but also to have more added back and help our regional economy recover. Air service will be even more important when our business customers return to the sky. We continue to appreciate the community support for choosing ROA."

The Commission works with airlines to improve the air service for the region. We are open and operational if the public needs to fly and have implemented enhanced cleaning protocols, as have our airlines, to make air travel as safe as possible. The Commission sincerely thanks our customers for choosing to fly ROA.

ABOUT THE ROANOKE-BLACKSBURG REGIONAL AIRPORT

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is the primary airport for Virginia's Blue Ridge and the New River Valley.  ROA serves over 291,000 passengers per year via four airlines (American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air) with nonstop service to 6 (Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, New York – LaGuardia, Philadelphia, and Washington-Dulles) hub cities as well as weekly flights to Orlando Sanford International Airport and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. To learn more, please visit www.flyroa.com. 

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