2021 Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Could Be Busiest Florida Airports Have Ever Seen

FLORIDA — Some airports in Florida are expected to see a major increase in passenger numbers compared to pre-pandemic Thanksgiving, while others will see about the same volume of travelers, industry officials said.

Tampa International Airport had a record year for passenger traffic in 2019, spokesperson Emily Nipps told Patch. The airport saw about 75,000 passengers per day during Thanksgiving travel season that year, she said.

"I would say we’re about the same compared to 2019," Nipps said. "This year we're seeing about the same."

The increase in passenger traffic could have some people worried about delays causing them to miss Thanksgiving dinner. Then there's the challenge presented by crowded terminal drop-off lanes. TIA offers a new service, express curbside, to help speed things up a bit for passengers. The Blue Express Curbsides opened Tuesday.

"Normally, when you come to the airport, the drop-off spot is at the ticketing level, then you must find your way back up to the transfer level to take the shuttles to the airside terminals," Nipp said. "Now, for those that do not have luggage to check (only carry-ons) and do not need to stop at ticketing to check in or print boarding passes, you can use the express curbsides, which will lead you right up to the transfer level, bypassing ticketing and saving time and energy."

TIA is the first to debut express curbsides in the U.S., according to its website. Nipp said the same goes for arrival passengers, too. The newly opened ones are for blue side but anyone can use them, she said. They are opening eight on the red side in 2025.

AAA predicts 191,662 Floridians will fly over the Thanksgiving holiday, and 2.9 million state travelers total are expected. That's about 321,000 more Florida travelers compared to 2020 when the numbers were extremely low because of the pandemic.

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Nipps said they don't expect any delays unless weather locally or elsewhere in the country causes a problem.

Miami International Airport

Miami International Airport officials expect more passengers compared to its record-breaking year, 2019. An increase of 11 percent is predicted with 140,000 passengers per day, its website said.

"The busiest day is expected to be November 28, the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day, with more than 156,000 passengers projected that day," a MIA spokesperson said.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport also expects an increase of Thanksgiving travelers based on its monthly passenger reports that most recently saw a 72 percent increase of October passengers compared to pre-pandemic (2019) level of 160,327 travelers. October 2021 reported a total of 275,359 passengers at SRQ.

Below are some tips to make traveling through any airport easier, according to airport officials:

• Arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight to allow enough time for the airline check-in and security checkpoint screening process.

• Passengers are encouraged to do their airline check-in online before arriving at an airport.

• Parking spaces are expected to be limited. Travelers should consider drop-off options such as a ride-share service or taxi.

• To expedite TSA checkpoint screening, wear easily removable shoes, follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids or gels in your carry-on, and avoid accessories that resemble weapons. More TSA tips are available at the TSA website.