The Sacramento International Airport saw a record number of monthly passengers in October.
According to a news release, SMF saw more than 1 million passengers - the new record set last month is 1,001,487 passengers for the second time in 2021. That number reflects an increase of 9.3% compared to September. There was also a 5% increase in departures. In October, SMF began twice-daily nonstop flights to Palm Springs and will begin nonstop service to Kona in Hawaii four times a week.
In the past, the airport has experienced an uptick in traffic demand during October, Johnson says. Mid-fall holidays and the return of business travel in some sectors are cited as reasons for the increase. “This excellent traffic result is a testament to the resiliency of the SMF market during the COVID recovery,” said Cindy Nichol, Director of Airports for Sacramento County. “We are excited to welcome travelers back and to be part of providing them a safe, convenient and memorable travel experience.”
The number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge. Administrator David Pekoske said Wednesday he expects agency staffing to be sufficient for what’s traditionally TSA’s busiest travel period. He said travelers should expect long lines at airports and plan to spend a little more time getting through security for this upcoming hoiday.