By Madison Hartley
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – With Spring Break season among us, airports are taking precaution. The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, said they have been preparing for spring break travelers. The pandemic has left airports much emptier this year, but officials expect to see a higher number of travellers from now through April due to spring break. With that in mind, TSA is upgrading technology in checkpoint areas and has increased employee vaccination efforts.
Due to Covid-19, The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville suspended their typical week-long spring break, spreading the days throughout the Spring term. Many students still plan on taking advantage of those two remaining March spring break days. Arkansas Senior Ariel Blakely is flying to Houston. Blakely said she considered that social distancing in airports might be more difficult, but she feels at ease about it. “I had the virus last month, so I feel a lot better knowing that my resistance is high and it would be difficult for me to catch it or spread it during this time period.”
Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) will be sticking with their protocol that was arranged near the beginning of the pandemic. XNA’s Alex English said they are confident in the current plan that is to remain.
The UofA’s Spring break schedule can be viewed here.