Air travelers are taking to the skies once again in Springfield.

Kent Boyd with the Springfield-Branson National Airport says people are looking to travel again.

“The most recent numbers we have for airline passenger numbers in Springfield are from April. They were up more than a thousand-percent compared to April of last year, which of course, was in the middle of the pandemic.”

People are flying again … In April Springfield airport passenger numbers were up 1,066 percent, when compared to the same month last year. It’s a big increase, but requires perspective … Click here for the rest: https://t.co/qC6qk2J6P6 #sgf #SpringfieldMo #BransonMo pic.twitter.com/aFLAexiIm8

— SGF Airport 😷 (@flySGF) May 24, 2021

Boyd says the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines has also played a role in the increase.

COVID restrictions will remain in place this summer, enforced by the airlines and the federal government.

The number of airline passengers is expected to continue to rise starting Memorial Day weekend and into the summer.