Holiday travel season officially kicked off Friday, as AAA predicts a record number of Americans will fly and drive between now and January 1. DFW Airport said it expects five million travelers to pass through during that time.
DFW Airport’s Traveler Forecast
The airport’s spokesperson, Rob Hemler, emphasized that busy roads, curbs, and terminals are expected for the next two weeks through the holidays. “We are expecting busy roads, busy curbs, busy terminals for the next two weeks through the holidays,” Hemler said.
Navigating Terminal Traffic
Lines began to build in DFW’s Terminal A, but those who arrived early were pleasantly surprised. “We were kind of expecting it, but it’s not been bad at all. Especially in this terminal, because the traffic is always terrible, but honestly, it wasn’t that bad either,” said Katie McEnry. Mario Bazan, who prepared by arriving extra early for his flight to Rio, added, “I was expecting a lot more people to be very honest, so it was very easy. It took about 15 minutes.”
Tips from DFW Airport
DFW encourages passengers to add 60 to 90 minutes to their typical travel plans over the next couple of weeks. At minimum, the airport recommends arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours if flying internationally. “At minimum, we encourage customers to get here at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours if they’re flying internationally,” Hemler reiterated.
Construction and Route Changes
Construction has snarled Thanksgiving travel, prompting the airport to open a new right-hand exit to Terminal A more than 20 days ahead of schedule. The airport also altered traffic routing through Terminal C, though a line of vehicles still snaked onto International Parkway on Friday evening. Frank Oden, one of several travelers who chose to enter through Terminal A, described the congestion: “Cars were on top of each other. It was ridiculous.”
Public Transit Recommendations
To help keep curb and road traffic from clogging, DFW urges travelers to use DART’s silver or orange lines or the Trinity Metro Texrail. These options can ease the flow around the airport during the busy holiday period.
Key Takeaways
- DFW Airport expects five million travelers between now and January 1.
- Passengers should allow extra travel time: two hours for domestic, three for international flights.
- New exit and traffic changes aim to mitigate congestion, but drivers still face heavy traffic.
The holiday travel season is in full swing, and travelers heading to DFW should plan ahead to navigate the busy roads, terminals, and construction-affected routes.
