RDU tool gives travelers latest details on pandemic rules at various destinations

The tool includes testing and quarantine requirements, information on where restaurants and tourist attractions are open or closed, local regulations and public health guidance.

The continued rollout of coronavirus vaccines is easing people's fears about traveling during the pandemic, according to a survey RDU also released Tuesday.

The airport recently sent the online survey to nearly 14,000 travelers, and three-quarters of the more than 500 respondents said that being vaccinated makes traveling by airline safer.

Ninety-one percent said they were partially or fully vaccinated or will be so in the near future, and 72 percent of that group said they have either flown since they got the vaccine or intend to book travel after being fully vaccinated.

"While the airport and airline industry have made tremendous strides in restoring passenger confidence, vaccinations will be the final piece that I believe will truly ignite the recovery," RDU President and Chief Executive Michael Landguth said.

Dwayne Williams has been vaccinated, and his first flight since the start of the pandemic was to Michigan for his uncle’s funeral.

"I also went through COVID last year, and I almost didn’t make it. So, I’m not going to let anything hinder me, but I wanted to make sure that the numbers were going down, it was leveling off," Williams, of Raleigh, said about not flying earlier.

Susan Rudd said she travels for business and has seen an increase in travelers lately.

"I just came from O’Hare [International Airport in Chicago], and the line at 5 o’clock in the morning was almost out the door," Rudd said.

Landguth said he expects leisure travel to rebound faster than business travel.

"As people get vaccinated, we’re going to start to see a return of those customers," he said. "When you start looking at the timing, [we think] Fourth of July weekend, when a lot of people in the United States who have been vaccinated, I think, are going to want to get on the road to see their loved ones and family and hopefully take a little vacation from COVID-19."

Other survey results show a slight majority respondents saying they felt safer about flying after taking their initial trip through RDU – the airport has staff dedicated to ensuring people are wearing masks and keeping their distance from others in the terminals – and that they would feel safe flying from RDU this week.