Holiday travel 2023: Atlanta airport's post-Christmas rush
ATLANTA - The presents have been opened and now millions of families across the country are getting ready to return home from the Christmas holiday.
Around 3.3 million passengers are expected to pass through Atlanta's busy Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during the holiday travel rush between Tuesday and Jan. 2.
Early Tuesday morning, travelers headed to the world's busiest airport and filled its security lines to head back home.
"Our plan was to get here before TSA opens. I've been through Atlanta many times before, and I know the best thing is to get here before 3:30," one traveler told FOX 5.
And airlines have adopted new strategies too. Canceled flights surged last year as airlines were caught short-staffed when travel rebounded from the pandemic more quickly than expected. Since then, airlines have hired thousands of pilots, flight attendants and ground workers. The cancelation rate has thankfully come down.
How Atlanta's airport moves 300K passengers safely
The Christmas travel rush is on with millions on the move for this year's holidays. The FAA says nearly 50,000 flights will crisscross the nation’s airspace Thursday. Some of those flights have made their way through Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport might just be the busiest crossroads for flights.
Also helping with the holiday rush this year - the FAA created more air traffic routes, especially along the East Coast, to help keep planes moving.
"I think we got here well enough, so she doesn't have to wait in long lines," another traveler said. "That was the easiest part."
As the holiday travel season peaks, passengers are advised to plan accordingly, arrive early, and stay informed about any updates or changes in travel conditions.
Hartsfield-Jackson officials suggest passengers arrive at the airport at least two-and-a-half hours before scheduled domestic departure and three hours before international flights.
Long lines plague post-Christmas travelers at Atlanta's airport
The morning after Christmas was one of long lines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. At points, the security line was well over an hour.
The TSA blamed that on several factors, including an "unusual number" of sick calls.
"Today is not a good day to travel," one woman said.
Travelers were stuck in long TSA security lines that snaked their way around baggage carousels Tuesday at the world’s busiest airport.
The post-Christmas travel surge hit Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport hard.
"This is the busiest I have ever seen it," said Mona Proulx.
The airport says Tuesday will not be a record travel day, but about 90,000 people are projected to be screened at ATL’s security checkpoints. Proulx was one of the thousands of travelers who waited more than an hour to get through security.
"I've never seen the security lines wrap around the baggage claim," she said. "I've been back to this point right here before, but never that."
The TSA says several factors likely contributed to the long lines, including heavy travel volume, weather on Christmas Day that impacted flights and more callouts than normal. Steve Mayers is an airport spokesperson and says this year is particularly busy.
"Folks are going back home after spending quality time with their families," he said. "We're happy to be serving them, but the day after Christmas is a very, very busy travel period."
During the holiday season, officials have urged travelers to get to the airport at least 2.5 hours early. While some say that still was not enough time, others took no chances and got here even earlier.
"I was kind of like, it's going to be hit or miss," said Kelsey Doell. "There's a chance that it's going to be super empty or there's a chance it's going to be super crowded, and I was not taking the chance, so I just got here as early as I could."