MSP Airport expects 1.8 million travelers this holiday season
Friday is the big liftoff day for holiday travel at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where officials expect about 1.8 million people to come through between now and the first week of January.
"I'm a first-year college student and I'm just ready to see my friends and family again back in Florida," said Romarion Farquharson.
Farquharson wrestles for Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington. He was hoping to visit his family for Thanksgiving but decided to wait because of canceled flights due to a lack of air traffic controllers at that time, as a result of the government shutdown.
"It really did upset me a little bit because I wasn't able to come home for Thanksgiving and see my family sooner," said Farquharson.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission says air traffic control is now fully staffed, and it's expecting a 4% increase for Christmas and New Year's travel compared to last year.
"We are going to see pockets of very busy volumes today and certainly the day after Christmas and the Sunday that follows. They are going to be really busy, with over 50,000 people coming through the checkpoints," said Jeff Lea, MAC spokesperson.
Lea said he also expects the roads leading to the airport to be steady as well, with drivers picking travelers up and dropping them off. Mornings between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. are expected to be the busiest.
"Please use our cell phone lots that are on Post Road right off of Highway 5. Free waiting zone, wait for the call and then make your way to the terminal for pickup," said Lea.
But as long as the weather cooperates, they aren't expecting major problems, which is good news for the Hennen family, who left Friday morning for Boise, Idaho.
"Actually, traveling around the holidays is pretty smooth as long as you aren't going right before Christmas. I think we have a pretty good system with the little ones. So, it's pretty smooth for us," said Tasha Hennen.