Nearly two dozen new hand sanitizer stations have been installed at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
But because of the outbreak, there are far fewer people there to use them.
Since the pandemic began, flights at the airport have been cut in half, according to JMAA spokeswoman Sherie Dean.
JMAA is the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, the agency that oversees Jackson-Evers and Hawkins Field.
Dean did not know how many exactly how many fewer passengers were flying but said she had noticed fewer people at the airport.
What’s happening at Jackson-Evers is not unlike the national trend.
In mid-March, several major airlines had announced they were cutting flights due to the coronavirus. United Airlines announced it was cutting its domestic and international flights by 10 percent and 20 percent for the month of April, ABC News reported.
Meanwhile, Delta Airlines was planning to reduce domestic flights as much as 15 percent, and international flights by 20 to 25 percent, ABC reported.
The airlines were also implementing hiring freezes and offering volunteer leave options as the virus spread.
Flights at Jackson-Evers have dropped by as much as 50 percent, while occupancy rates at the airport’s car lots have also fallen.
Prior to the outbreak, between 20 and 24 flights were entering or leaving the airport. As of last week, that number had fallen to between 10 and 15, based on airline reports, Dean said.
The Little Rock and Mobile airports have seen similar decreases.
According to a March 18 article from U.S. News and World Report, the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport was expected to see a 50 percent decrease in flights as a result of the virus.
Chris Curry, president of the Mobile Airport Authority, the agency that operates the Mobile Regional Airport, said flights there have dropped as well.
“We’ve seen a 75 to 80 percent reduction in enplanements and have seen half of the flights being cut,” he said. “The situation is so fluid, that the numbers are changing on a daily basis.”
Enplanements are the boarding of passengers, he explained.
Mobile’s regional airport serves Delta Airlines, United Airlines and American Eagle. The airport averages 21 flights in and out each day, Curry said.
Delta, United and American Airlines fly out of Jackson-Evers.
As a result of the fewer flights, concessions and parking revenues at airports were also expected to fall.
Officials in Little Rock projected parking and concessions earnings at the Clinton airport to fall 21 and 25 percent respectively, U.S. News and World Report states.
Meanwhile, a restaurant at the Mobile Regional had closed off part of its operations to serve only individuals that have gone through the airport’s screening process.
Fewer passengers and staffers has meant the closure of most restaurants and gift shops at Jackson-Evers.
“The Capital City Tavern on East Concourse is currently open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.” Dean said. “Passengers may order food to-go or dine in.”
As of last week, the Jackson-Evers parking garage was at two-percent capacity, while the surface lot was a four-percent capacity and the long-term lot was at 18 percent capacity, JMAA’s website states.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), Montreal-based trade association that represents 290 airline carriers in 117 countries, expects passenger revenues to drop by $252 billion, or 44 percent below 2019’s earnings, according to an association press release.
“The airline industry faces its gravest crisis. Within a matter of a few weeks, our previous worst-case scenario is looking better than our latest estimates,” IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said. “Airlines need $200 billion in liquidity support simply to make it through.”
Washington lawmakers recently did their part, passing a $2.2 trillion stimulus package.
The legislation, which had bipartisan support, included $32 billion in grants to help the struggling airline industry.
According to a summary of the bill provided by the Mississippi Economic Council, the billions will go exclusively toward salaries and benefits for airline workers and contractors, as well as cargo workers.
