LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Spring break travel is in full swing, and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is experiencing one of its busiest periods of the season.
Airport officials say passenger numbers are up 5% compared to last year, with more than 30,000 travelers expected to pass through between April 2 and April 5. Sunday marked the peak travel day, with over 9,000 departures.
Despite the crowds, some travelers said they felt relatively at ease when departing from Louisville.
“I think it’s the larger airports, Atlanta and Charlotte and Chicago, it’s a little more nervous, which we did get here a little bit earlier today just in case,” traveler Gabe Grabarek said. “But it doesn’t look that bad and we don’t really foresee any issues.”
Airports in Chicago, Boston, and parts of Florida are advising passengers to arrive at least two and a half hours early as spring break travel continues.
For some travelers, the bigger concern is the return trip rather than departure. Grabarek said connecting flights add uncertainty.
“I have a connecting flight back for D.C., so I am a little more nervous just coming back,” Grabarek said.
Others returning to Louisville said delays and cancellations caused more disruption than long security lines.
“We haven’t ran into issues with lines, but this time we ran into issues with our flight being delayed. There was a mechanical issue with the flight,” traveler Candice Gentry said. “And so we actually was booked on with one airline, and we got off, and I booked us with another airline to get home.”
Despite the challenges, travelers shared similar advice for navigating the busy travel period: plan ahead and allow extra time.
“I would just say still get out early because it will still be a busy week,” Gentry said. “So just be prepared.”
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