A federal travel warning in November likely spooked fliers over Thanksgiving and broke a string of month-over-month boarding increases at Chattanooga Airport, an official said Monday.
"Bookings for Thanksgiving were strong, but the edict came out from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] about not traveling and a lot customers changed plans and didn't travel by air," said Terry Hart, the airport's chief executive.
Airport boardings in October hit 22,559 passengers, which was Lovell Field's busiest month since the coronavirus pandemic sent the travel industry into a tailspin in March.
November boardings were 19,904, the airport reported.
For the year through November, boardings are down 59.46% from the same time in 2019, according to the airport.
Still, airport officials expressed optimism about traffic returning in 2021 with the roll out of the coronavirus vaccine.
Airport Authority Chairman Dan Jacobson said work is ongoing on the construction of a $25 million parking garage outside the passenger terminal that's slated for completion next summer. The garage will offer 650 net new public spaces when complete.
The deck is going up on existing parking spaces, and its ground floor is earmarked for the relocation of rental cars. That shift will free up space adjacent to the terminal for a future use that is under evaluation, potentially valet service, officials said.
Also, work is continuing on the design of potentially the largest terminal expansion in at least two decades at the airport should officials approve that project.
"Many airports were forced to pause or forego investments in projects," Jacobson said.
Hart said that a reported $900 million agreement in Congress to provide the nation with another round of pandemic aid is earmarking $2 billion for airports. But, he said, he's not sure how that money will be distributed.
One measure he's heard is that the money would go to airports based on 2019 boardings, Hart said.
"We'll keep our eyes and ears open," he said.
Earlier this year, the airport received $5 million in the first stimulus package passed by Congress.
Jim Hall, the Airport Authority's vice chairman, asked if that money had been spent yet.
Hart said the funds have been drawn down monthly, which would take the airport to next April.
He said another $14 billion to $15 billion from the proposed stimulus agreement is to go to the airlines.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.