Houston airports are expecting more than 2.2 million travelers during the Thanksgiving travel period this year— between Thursday and Dec. 2.
The Houston Airports System is expecting at least 1.7 million passengers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 500,000 at the William P. Hobby Airport.
That’s an expected two percent increase from 2023 Thanksgiving travel and a nine percent increase from 2022.
“Our focus is on providing an efficient, seamless experience for the record number of travelers passing through our airports this Thanksgiving,” Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports said in a press release.
“With new traffic and parking enhancements, we’re committed to supporting passengers during the busiest travel days of the year,” Szczesniak said.
Ahead of Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Houston’s Bush Airport will open back up an additional roadway lane to accommodate holiday traffic.
Before Thanksgiving, the airport will restore the North Terminal Road to its original four-lane layout, eliminating a merge point at the entrance of the always congested Terminal D. The travel time on North Terminal Road will drop down to eight and a half minutes from 14 minutes, officials said.
RELATED: Bush Intercontinental Airport to expand roadway capacity to accommodate holiday traffic
But ongoing construction at the airport along with congestion will cause delays. People driving to the Bush Airport should anticipate delays and arrive early, according to the Houston Airports System.
During 10 of the 12 day holiday period, more than 175,000 people are projected to move through the airports everyday.
The busiest travel days will be Dec. 1— with an estimated 206,000 travelers, Nov. 22— with an estimated 205,000 travelers and Nov. 24— with 200,000 travelers.
The least crowded days will be on Thanksgiving day and Black Friday.
Both Houston airports will implement a new cashless parking system during the holiday period. The technology is located at the entrance and exit kiosks of the Hobby Airport and the ecopark2 garage at the Bush Airport.
Thanksgiving travel last year surpassed pre-pandemic levels at the Bush and Hobby airports.
Over the Christmas holiday period last year, nearly four million passengers were expected to fly within the 21-day winter holiday travel period that ended Jan. 3. It was set to be the larges winter holiday travel period on record.
