Airport ramps get crowded over holiday weekends. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
Commercial air travel is projected to be exceptionally busy this Memorial Day weekend, with forecasts suggesting it could be the busiest since 2005 and exceed pre-pandemic levels.
General aviation (GA) airports nationwide are also expecting a busy weekend with steady traffic, but FBOs and managers generally anticipate manageable conditions rather than being "overrun."
While some GA destinations anticipate "chaotic" periods, the overall outlook suggests GA airports will be less congested and easier to navigate compared to commercial hubs or highway travel.
It’s going to be a busy, crowded weekend, especially for those traveling by air, according to forecasts.
The FAA said it expects nearly 313,000 flights during the seven days it counts as the holiday period. This would surpass last year’s total for the same period but fall several thousand flights short of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
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Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4
