Despite a warning from the CDC to avoid travel for Thanksgiving, officials at Bradley International Airport say they expect to see increased traffic around the holiday. But it'll be nothing like previous years.
Passenger traffic is expected to be down 65% this Thanksgiving, as compared to last year at the airport between Hartford and Springfield.
The holiday is expected to generate a 40% boost over recent weeks, as air travel has been slow to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic.
Kevin Dillon, the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said Bradley and the airlines have put in extensive precautions to keep flyers safe, both in the terminal and on the plane. He said airlines have taken steps to improve air filtration on the planes, and most are also requiring masks to be worn by passengers during flights.
"Quite frankly, I do believe coming through Bradley Airport, as well as flying on aircraft leaving Bradley Airport, is a relatively safe activity," Dillon said. "It's all what you do once you get to that destination."
Masks will also be required in the airport, and enhanced cleaning measures will be in place. Plexiglass barriers will be used to separate visitors and workers.
Sandra Marsian of AAA said an overall downturn in Thanksgiving-related travel is expected.
"What we typically see is a year-on-year increase, especially for Thanksgiving," Marsian said. "This year, we're actually expecting a 10% drop in travel, which is the largest decrease we've seen since the great recession in 2008."
Marsian said the decrease could be even larger, as many people are waiting until the last minute to decide whether to travel for Thanksgiving, given the recent surge in coronavirus cases.
