Lafayette Regional Airport began 2020 coming off a record-setting year for passengers in 2019. The Airport Commission was optimistic that trend would continue. The first two months of 2020 were on pace to match 2019’s success even though Frontier Airlines decided to end service out of Lafayette in late 2019. Planes were 70-80 percent full heading into the Mardi Gras holiday.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, and the whole landscape changed. At the beginning of March, measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 were put into place that essentially decimated the travel industry. Lafayette Regional Airport entered uncharted territory, much the same as many other businesses.

For the airport, the effect was profound and deep. The number of passengers dropped to the lowest in the history of the airport. March and April saw just 23,187 total passengers. By comparison, in 2019 over the same two month period, there were 88,436 passengers. At its lowest point in April, passenger activity was down over 90 percent from the previous year.

In order to provide a safe environment for passengers, LFT initiated several protocols inside the terminal when Phase I of the COVID-19 response was announced. First, the airport janitorial staff implemented new protocols with more frequent cleaning with virus-killing cleaners. This included counters, railings, seats in waiting areas, door handles, escalators and elevators, rest rooms and baggage claim. The airport also installed hand sanitizing stations throughout the terminal. Rental car companies, the restaurant and bar, and the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) also adopted enhanced cleaning protocols for their areas.

As we moved into Phase II of the response and face coverings were required, the airport put signage throughout the terminal, including all entrance doors reminding visitors to wear face coverings, social distance and wash their hands frequently. A public service announcement was recorded and put into the overhead announcements rotation with the same reminders. By the beginning of May, the airlines were requiring face covering in order to board a flight.

In May, the passenger numbers began to rebound with 7,856 passengers for the month. For the next eight months, passenger numbers saw a steady increase. June had 10,239 passengers, July had 17,313, August had 17,105, September had 20,656. By the end of September, passengers counts were still just 54 percent of the numbers in 2019. The increase in passenger totals would continue to grow steadily each month through the end of the year.

Beginning in mid-July, the airlines began to increase the number of flights per day to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Lafayette Regional Airport Commissioners represent all areas of Lafayette Parish. The city-parish council, mayor-president and area mayors appoint the commission. The seven-member volunteer commission performs strategic and marketing-related oversight. Commissioners work with airport staff to oversee management, operations and business development with potential vendors. Additionally, commissioners act as ambassadors for the airport through their interaction with community and government leaders.

The airport staff provides and ensures a safe, secure and customer friendly environment for all of the aviation needs of Acadiana, while promoting the continuous growth and development of Lafayette Regional Airport.