People are traveling again through South Bend International Airport.
As commercial carriers began increasing daily flights in recent weeks, it has translated to rising flight activity, airport officials said. After four straight months of decreased flights because of restrictions fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, flights showed a 56.2% increase in July when compared to June and for August, the number of scheduled flights project activity will increase another 42.1%.
“SBN has been impacted by COVID-19 as most every business has been,” said Mike Daigle, SBN’s executive director and CEO. “As travel restrictions have been lifted, the airlines are resuming service as demand returns.”
Daigle said safety of passengers, employees, and travelers who pass through the airport is a priority.
“The airlines and each of our tenant partners are doing everything possible to ensure a safe travel experience,” he said. “We are at a time where it is as important as ever for travelers to choose to fly SBN instead of driving to airports in larger cities (and) we appreciate everyone who is choosing to travel and is choosing to start and end their trip at SBN.”
American Airlines recently resumed a second daily flight from South Bend to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, airport officials said. This flight along with the two daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport returned American’s operations in South Bend to pre-pandemic levels.
Delta Air Lines, before the pandemic, previously served South Bend nonstop to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
In the past few months, Delta flew one flight a day to Detroit. In July, service to Detroit increased to twice daily while fights to Atlanta resumed with one flight per day.
Airport officials said Delta is expected to increase to three flights daily to both Detroit and Atlanta. Service to Minneapolis-Saint Paul is schedule to resume in September.
United Airlines increased flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport from two to three times daily in July. In August, United will operate the flight four times a day.
Allegiant continues to serve all of its five year-round destinations from South Bend. Nonstop service to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport resumes twice weekly on Nov. 20 for a second season, airport officials said.
South Bend International Airport’s four air carriers provide nonstop flights to 13 cities incluidng: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York City/Newark, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, Sarasota/Bradenton, and Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg.
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