Air Passenger Traffic Surpasses 2019 Levels; Airlines, Airports Face Staffing Shortages
LAURIE BARATTI | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that airport passenger screening numbers have surpassed 2019 levels for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Predictions showed passenger counts would be high heading into the July 4th holiday weekend, but no one necessarily foresaw that air traveler volumes would eclipse pre-pandemic levels. News like this offers further evidence of the strong resurgence in travel demand the U.S. is seeing this summer. The TSA said that nearly 2.15 million people passed through airport security checkpoints on Thursday—approaching three percent more than the 2.01 passengers…