With both Christmas and New Year’s just around the corner, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport said it expects to see a modest increase in passengers — but numbers will still be much lower than in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

State and local leaders — as well as infectious disease experts — have cautioned people against traveling this year for the holidays due to the global health situation. Normal holiday traditions such as prolonged indoor meals and multiple families coming together offer increased opportunity for virus transmission.

Those that do decide to travel, however, will have to go through the necessary protocols to do so.

“Travelers who choose to fly over the holidays can fly with confidence knowing that airports and airlines follow stringent health and safety measures,” Michael Landguth, president & CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, said.

“Studies show the risk of viral spread is extremely low when our protocols are followed,” Landguth added. “We are asking the flying public to travel smart. From the moment you leave your house until you return home – wear your mask, wait six feet apart and wash your hands frequently.”

There is an expectation of 104,261 passengers flying through RDU this week, which is a 64 percent decrease compared to last year. For New Year’s week, 102,000 passengers are forecasted for a 59 percent decrease from 2019.

All guests and employees are required to wear a mask at all times in the terminals and airlines will not let people board without one.

RDU Airport will also hand out free, FEMA-issued masks to anyone who needs one.

 

 

Photo via Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

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