BWI airport handles 200,000 travelers with ease during Thanksgiving rush
- BWI Airport expects to serve over 200,000 travelers during the Thanksgiving period.
- Travelers reported smooth experiences and manageable crowds, contrasting expectations of chaos.
- Organized parking and effective management contributed to a successful travel environment at BWI.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Airport has been preparing to accommodate an influx of travelers. As families and individuals travel to various destinations for the holiday, BWI anticipated serving over 200,000 passengers during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which stretches through Sunday. The airport managed to see around 32,000 travelers on Tuesday and expected up to 35,000 on Wednesday, with Sunday projected to be the busiest day, hitting around 40,000 travelers. This organized effort comes amid concerns over holiday crowds, which travelers reported feeling under control. Although they expected heavy traffic, travelers reported a smooth journey to the airport. For instance, the Rera family humorously described their experience driving from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to BWI, where they encountered no traffic and compared it to a usual Tuesday visit to the Baltimore Zoo. Passengers emphasized their relief in finding the airport manageable. Barry, a traveler, noted how organized the airport appeared and stated it was not as busy as he had anticipated, showcasing that BWI's preparations were effective. To manage parking for the expected surge of passengers, BWI maintains over 25,000 parking spaces, with 10% of express parking spots still available at the time. Additionally, daily garage parking and Long Term Lot A had slightly more than 40% of their spots available. BWI spokesperson Jonathan Dean assured that the airport could meet parking demands comfortably. Travelers were encouraged to allow ample time for parking, ticketing, and TSA screenings, especially considering the unprecedented number of passengers projected over the holiday. As Thanksgiving approaches, BWI demonstrated its capability to handle a busy travel period efficiently, leading to general satisfaction among passengers who anticipated a chaotic holiday due to high turnout. This positive experience reflects well on airport management and the preparation strategies implemented to ensure traveler comfort and safety, even during one of the busiest times of the year.