AS COVID-19 CASES GROW.. ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY.. ARE FEELING THE IMPACT… HERE’S NBC5’S ZURI HOFFMAN. I got on the last plane out of there they were closing their commercial flights) BO TRAN IS HAPPY TO HAVE MADE IT BACK FROM SPENDING MONTHS IN NEW ZELAND – TRAVELING THROUGH AIRPORT TO AIRPORT TO GET BACK HOME- HE’S PLANNING TO SELF- QUARANTINE. (SOT) (0:04) (Bo Tran/ flyer) (It was just like a snap decision to get on a plane and come home) INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL NOW LIMITED BECAUSE OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND ADVISORIES… ITS MAKING THINGS MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE STILL WORKING – LIKE CAB DIVERS WHO RELY ON CROSSING THE US – CANADIAN BOARDER… (SOT) (0:06) (Alif Alif/ Taxi driver) (We do just only long-distance but right now we need any business – nothing) OWNER OF BURLINGTON AIRPORT TAXI IS DOING HIS BEST TO FIND CUSTOMERS IN A GHOST TOWN… TYPICALLY CLOSE TO 2,000 PEOPLE PASS THRU BURLINGTON AIRPORT IN A DAY … BUT SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS TIGHTENED ITS GRIP ON THE US … THAT NUMBER – CLOSER TO 100. (SOT) (0:04) You can’t really make money that way-They’ve been doing that for about three weeks running very low loads LAW REQUIRES THE AIRPORT TO STAY OPEN BUT MANY AIRLINES HAVE DECIDED TO CANCEL FLIGHTS BECAUSE OF LESS TRAVELERS – COMING AND GOING. (SOT) (0:06) (Gene Richards/ BTV Aviation Director) (It means that less people are traveling which means they are doing with the governor and the mayor have asked they’re staying at home) THE GOVERNOR ISSUING A ‘STAY HOME’ ORDER EARLIER THIS WEEK – HOPING IT WILL SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE DEADLY VIRUS BUT FOR WORKERS WITH ESSENTIAL JOBS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET – IT HASN’T BEEN EASY.
According to the Burlington Airport Aviation Director, close to 2,000 travelers pass through the Burlington International Airport in a day. But because of growing COVID-19 cases, it is down to just 100 flyers daily.
“It means that less people are traveling, which means they are doing what the governor and the mayor have asked — they are staying home,” said Gene Richards, the airport Aviation Director.
Richards says, law requires the airport to stay open but many airlines have canceled flights because of less travelers coming and going, “you can’t make money that way. They’ve been doing that for about three weeks — running very low loads.”
With international travel limited because of COVID-19 restrictions and advisories, it’s making staying in business harder for local taxi drivers who rely on busy airports and crossing the U.S. and Canadian boarder.
“We do just long distance, but right now we need any business,” said local taxi driver, Alif Alif.
Alif is hoping the pandemic ends soon so clients will return to using his services, “nothing right now for almost 20 days,” he said.
– Source: Zuri Hoffman – www.mynbc5.com
