MORRISVILLE – Passenger traffic through Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) increased by 112% year-over-year, the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority announced today.  In total, 637,000 passengers flew through the airport in January, which a spokesperson for the airport had previously told WRAL TechWire tended to be the slowest month of the year.

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority called the numbers “a signal of the ongoing rebound in air travel,” in a statement shared with WRAL TechWire.

“The recovery continued in January at RDU, although at a slower pace during the month that typically has the lowest passenger traffic of the year,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority in the statement. “As we look ahead to the busier months, we are pleased to announce that passengers will be greeted by new dining options that bring more North Carolina flavors and culture to the airport.”

The airport is on track to open a ghost kitchen, or a virtual food hall, that can provide a wide array of food options, in its Terminal 2.  The concept relies on airport travelers placing orders on kiosks or mobile devices and then picking them up in temperature-controlled lockers.  It’s a digital, contactless food-ordering and payment system, the airport said is “aligned with current consumer trends toward touchless service.”

The airport could open that ghost kitchen later this year, the statement noted.  The airport was rated third in the country for its customer service in a 2021 report.

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