Lehigh Valley International Airport is inching back to normal passenger traffic levels as people begin to fly again following the COVID-19 shutdown.

The Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority is reporting a 61.6 % drop in traffic from Jan. 2020, which was right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

According to Tom Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, 390,764 passengers traveled through the airport in 2020. That’s a more than 57% decline from 2019.

With many COVID-19 restrictions lifted, residents of the Greater Lehigh Valley are travelling again. The Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority reported that while passenger traffic remains drastically down from last year, it took a major jump in June over May’s numbers.

While traffic remains down drastically from this time last year, Lehigh Valley International Airport did see a slight increase in traffic in May over April. Still, airlines are making changes as a result of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel.

The rapidly changing and spreading virus upended nearly 30 consecutive months of positive passenger traffic at Lehigh Valley International Airport and put a financial strain on the airport as it continues operating and providing services.

911,970 -- That’s the number of passengers that flew out of Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County last year.

As Allegiant Travel Co. prepares to open its aircraft base at Lehigh Valley International Airport next month, the company is branching out to offer new routes for travelers. Today, the Las Vegas-based company said it will offer service to Chicago Midway International Airport from LVIA starting May 14.

Lehigh Valley International Airport said it’s had consistent growth for 25 straight months now. It is reporting 77,794 passengers traveled through the airport in October, that’s an 11.56 percent increase over October of last year.

Allegiant said it would offer service from Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport beginning Feb. 13, 2020. In addition, the company is offering one-way fares on the new route for $6