The holiday travel season is upon us

(November 17, 2016) The holidays are upon us, and Tampa International Airport is ready to welcome the influx of additional travelers.  The travel period for the Thanksgiving holidays begins on Saturday, November 19 and runs through Monday, November 28 with more than 275,000 enplaned passengers expected.  The busiest travel days are the Saturday through Monday following the holiday. 

The number one travel tip for the holidays?  Allow a little extra time to find parking, check-in, and complete the screening process. And should you find yourself with some extra time while you’re here, remember that Tampa International Airport has already opened dozens of new concession offerings, so you can enjoy one of our new dining options or get a jump on your holiday shopping.

Measures taken by the Airport to prepare for the added passenger traffic include full staffing in all areas related to safety, security and maintenance to address any situation that could impact the travel experience.  TPA also works closely with its Airport partners including the TSA and concessionaires, sharing information on peak travel times at each airside to make sure that they are prepared to address heavier passenger flow to minimize wait times.

The ongoing construction project requiring the nightly closure of the Blue Arrival and Departure Drive curbsides will be suspended during the Thanksgiving holiday period. All curbside locations will be open and available to guests for drop-off at the Departure Level and pick-up at the Arrival Level, however, these areas become especially congested during peak times.  Drivers dropping off or picking up passengers at the curbsides will not be allowed to park and wait or leave any vehicle unattended.  Drivers picking up guests will not be allowed to stop at the curbside until their arriving passengers and all luggage is ready to load. 

Avoid curbside congestion by using the Cell Phone Waiting Lot located at the entrance to the Airport. The Cell Phone Lot has real-time flight information, free Wi-Fi, restrooms, vending machines and even electric vehicle charging stations!  Drivers can also park for free under one hour in the Short Term Parking Garage.

Get the latest news and information during the holiday travel season and all year long by following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @FlyTPA.

From all of us at Tampa International Airport, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.