Quad Cities International Airport (QCIA) saw consumers and families ready to take off on spring break trips in March. Increased traveler confidence and availability of COVID-19 vaccines helped increase passenger counts steadily over the first quarter of 2021. More than 35,000 passengers came through QCIA in March, which is the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Traffic improved to a 46% decline compared to 2019, versus the 56-60% decline that has been the norm for the past several months. QCIA continued to meet or exceed the national pace of recovery. United Airlines resumed twice-daily service to Denver in February while Delta Air Lines is resuming twice-daily service to Minneapolis in June. In late March, the airport unveiled a new brand, officially changing the name of the airport to Quad Cities International Airport. Future terminal design plans also were revealed which will transform the aging facility. Through the first quarter of the calendar year, the airport continued to beat revenue projections by focusing on diversification of revenue and capturing available grant funding.
Restaurants enjoyed an increase in business this quarter while remaining open to indoor dining, curbside and delivery.
Hotels continued to see an increase in guests. The extended-stay hotels continued to have more occupancy as they can accommodate corporate travelers and visiting families with their amenities, kitchens and other comforts of home. Some hotels pivoted to offer space for events such as “Ladies Night Out” and partnered with gyms and others to provide amenities not available in-house.
Drawbacks
QCIA passenger counts remained ahead of industry averages, yet business travelers were slow to return to air travel. The availability of video conferencing platforms and other virtual meeting options could change the way businesses choose to meet in the future. The airport continued to work with Delta Air Lines to resume service to Detroit, as well as keeping conversations open with all airlines currently serving the airport for potential service opportunities. Building traveler confidence remained a priority for the airport moving into Q2 2021.
Restaurants continued to struggle with the challenge of not having enough staff to support the number of patrons and some had to decrease hours of operation. Some furloughed workers found jobs outside the restaurant industry or have stayed out of the workforce due to unemployment benefits. Supply chain issues included not being able to obtain some items and increased costs.
Some hotels were still running with limited staff due to hiring challenges. Even though travelers increased, it's predicted it will take 2-3 years to recover from the loss of revenues experienced.
Retail
Drivers
Retail shops had increased revenues with more people out shopping. Heightened consumer confidence with the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine led to people returning to stores and not just using online shopping or curbside pickup.
Grocery stores remained busy. While a lot of consumers opted to support local restaurants, many were still cooking at home as they were not ready to eat out.
Auto sales were strong. Some car dealers reported record sales; stimulus checks and income tax refunds contributed to increased sales.
Drawbacks
Online shopping sales remained strong and some local shops still were not equipped to handle online sales efficiently.
Grocery stores had difficulties hiring and retaining employees. Grocers and other food-related businesses experienced disruptions within their supply chain.
Auto dealers were unable to obtain used cars or new cars in certain makes and models. There were recalls and supply chain disruptions that caused some automakers to put production on hold for certain vehicles.
Construction
Drivers
Construction saw strong bid boards and the design demand backlog was at a record high. Commercial construction increased with companies rebranding and or rescaling their business model.
Drawbacks
Supply chain disruption was a big concern. Many contractors were unable to get lumber to complete jobs while prices increased substantially; some contractors were forced to rebid projects at higher prices. Specialized positions such as construction management and estimators were hard to fill.
Service
Drivers
Managed IT service providers continued to be busy as most of the office workforce in the region worked from home. Cybersecurity has been important due to the increase in fraud during the pandemic.
Drawbacks
Managed IT service providers reported a lot of companies were not equipped to handle cyberattacks. Some IT providers did not have the capacity to help with day-to-day issues due to the need for cybersecurity and fraud prevention.
The heart of the Midwest
QC, That's Where? It's where two states and one mighty Mississippi River are home to a family of communities making the Midwest's future.
