CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland Hopkins Intercontinental Airport welcomed nearly 7.3 million passengers in 2021, a solid rebound from 2020 but nevertheless down significantly from 2019.

Even though the pandemic carries on to depress air journey, Cleveland Hopkins is recovering speedier than the relaxation of the state, according to U.S. Office of Transportation figures.

At 7.28 million, Cleveland’s passenger depend in 2021 is 72% of its pre-pandemic, 2019 level nationwide, passenger numbers are at about 68% of what they had been in 2019, a report year for air vacation in the United States and across the globe.

“Clevelanders like to travel,” explained Airport Director Robert Kennedy, by way of explanation.

Cleveland’s numbers are a 78% maximize more than 2020, when air journey tanked throughout the world owing to the pandemic.

In fact, quite a few carriers extra new assistance in 2021, in an effort to reply to modifying journey tendencies. Demand from customers for leisure journey continues to significantly outpace restoration of enterprise travel.

United Airways, the greatest provider in Cleveland, additional many leisure-oriented routes in 2021, including new or returning assistance to Las Vegas, Phoenix, Nassau in the Bahamas and Portland, Maine.

And coming in June: new, everyday, nonstop support to Seattle on Alaska Airways.

Cleveland has observed some metropolitan areas dropped from its roster of locations, as very well, like Delta Air Line’s nonstop flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, Allegiant Air this month pulled its functions from Cleveland and will start traveling from the Akron-Canton Airport in March.

John Hogan, deputy chief of marketing and air assistance enhancement at Cleveland Hopkins, predicts that passenger numbers at Hopkins will continue to rebound, with 8.5 million to 9 million passengers in 2022, and 10 million in 2023.

Cleveland Hopkins passenger figures

2021: 7.28 million

2020: 4.1 million

2019: 10.04 million

2018: 9.64 million

2017: 9.14 million

2016: 8.42 million

2015: 8.10 million

2014: 7.61 million

2013: 9.07 million

2012: 9.01 million

2011: 9.18 million

2010: 9.49 million

Supply: Cleveland Hopkins Worldwide Airport