Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is expecting its busiest Memorial Day weekend since early 2020, with a post-pandemic record of over 224,000 travelers on Thursday alone. LAX officials are anticipating 214,000 passengers on Friday, 205,000 on Monday, and 1.2 million total for the Memorial Day travel period. The airport suggests passengers arrive early, pre-book parking and order food and drinks ahead of time to pick up before they head to the gates. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 10 million travelers between Friday and Monday, a 14% increase over the holiday in 2022 and slightly more than in 2019.
As featured on a recent report from KTLA, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is preparing for its busiest Memorial Day weekend since early 2020. The airport set a post-pandemic record on Thursday with over 224,000 travelers passing through, and officials are expecting the remainder of the holiday weekend to be just as busy.
LAX is anticipating 214,000 passengers on Friday, 205,000 on Monday, and a total of 1.2 million travelers for the entire Memorial Day travel period (Thursday-Monday). Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, said, “Memorial Day weekend is just the start of what will be a very busy summer travel season at LAX where we expect passenger traffic to reach the highest levels we have seen in the past several years.”
The Central Terminal Area is also expected to see a spike in vehicle traffic, with over 90,000 vehicles predicted to pass through on Friday alone. To avoid delays and ensure a smooth travel experience, LAX is advising passengers to arrive early, pre-book parking, and order food and drinks ahead of time to pick up before heading to their gates.
While LAX is bracing for a busy weekend, it’s not the only airport expecting a surge in travelers. The number of people going through U.S. airports hit pandemic-era highs last weekend, and those records are almost certain to be broken over the Memorial Day holiday. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen 10 million travelers between Friday and Monday, a 14% increase over the holiday in 2022 and slightly more than in 2019.
AAA predicts that 37 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home this weekend, an increase of more than 2 million from Memorial Day last year but still below pre-pandemic numbers in 2019. While the increase in travel is a positive sign for the industry, airline officials are still cautious about the summer travel season.
Last summer, the airline industry faced a surge in flight cancellations and delays, with 52,000 flights nixed from June through August. However, airline officials say they have fixed the problems that contributed to the issues and have hired about 30,000 workers since then, including thousands of pilots. They are also using bigger planes to reduce flights but not the number of seats.
Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer at Southwest Airlines, which struggled at times over the summer of 2022, said, “I don’t have the hubris to tell you exactly how the summer is going to go, but we have prepared and we have a robust plan for it.”
As travelers prepare for the holiday weekend, it’s important to stay up-to-date on any travel advisories or restrictions in place due to the ongoing pandemic. While the increase in travel is a positive sign for the industry, it’s important to prioritize safety and follow all guidelines to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
