Quad Cities Airport Continues Positive Trend in Passengers for April
The Quad Cities International Airport is continuing its impressive ascent in passenger traffic, as April saw more than 36,000 passengers travel through the Moline airport.
The Q-C Airport in Moline saw over 36,000 passengers in April, the best month since the start of the Covid pandemic.
For comparison, April 2020 saw just 2,734 total passengers as the pandemic took a firm hold across the globe. With this last month’s 36,594 passengers, moving forward the airport will use 2019 passenger numbers as a comparison to measure recovery, it said Wednesday.
“We typically see a slight dip in April coming off of the busy spring break season, so the slight bump in passenger numbers was a welcome sight,” Q-C Airport executive director Benjamin Leischner said in a release.
April 2021 exceeded the March passenger numbers of 35,634 – the previous monthly high since the pandemic. In April 2019, the airport saw 59,125 total passengers. For all 2020, the Q-C airport served 58 percent fewer total passengers than 2019.
“Q-C Airport is known for being quick, easy to navigate and friendly, so we’ve been working with airport staff and emphasizing with our airline partners the importance of living up to our travelers’ expectations,” Leischner said.
“Remaining customer-focused has helped us weather the industry’s most difficult year in history and will continue to be what helps set us apart and bring travelers back,” he said.
The biggest gains in travel continue to be in the leisure market, as families take advantage of more flexible work and school schedules, and loosening restrictions at popular destinations, the airport announced.
Business travel is still lagging though industry experts are looking toward a late summer or early fall timeframe for possible recovery, the
Ben Leischner is executive director of Quad Cities International Airport.
release said.
“We serve a large number of business travelers, so we know a big part of our recovery will depend on when businesses start sending people back out on the road,” said Leischner. “We know we are in for a long road ahead to full recovery, but we will continue working with airlines to restore service and explore any new opportunities that will not only help support our economic recovery as a region but all our Q-C travelers.”
As mask mandates begin to relax throughout the U.S., travelers should be aware that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended the face-mask requirement that includes airports and commercial aircraft through Sept. 13. Free face coverings are provided at each entrance at the Quad Cities Airport.
Quad Cities International Airport serves passengers from western Illinois and eastern Iowa. With 10 nonstop destinations, the airport served over 700,000 passengers in 2019. Four major airlines operate out of Q-C Airport — Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
For more information, visit qcairport.com.
