'Busiest Christmas ever': Orlando airport officials offer tips for holiday travelers

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando International Airport is set to be among the busiest airports in the country during the Christmas and New Year's travel season.

Airport officials said more than 2.7 million passengers are expected to fly in and out of Orlando during the busy travel stretch. That amounts to a 6 percent increase over last year.

More than 137,000 people are expected to travel through OIA on Friday, and officials said that's only good enough for the 16th busiest day of the holiday season.

Officials said the busiest travel days will be between Dec. 30 and Jan. 6.

"There's no way to prepare for walking through a bunch of people. I don't like it at all," said flyer Katherine Zamora.

One benefit to flying out of OIA this year compared to other years is less construction.

Officials said the airport completed its ticket renovations, enhanced its checkpoint expansion projects and updated signage.

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On Thursday, there were almost 400 delays of a half hour or longer and 15 cancellations because of winter weather, including strong storms in Central Florida.

David Garrett, of Orlando, said he had some extra time before he had board his flight to Houston to spend Christmas with his daughter.

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"On the way to the airport, I got a notice (that my flight) had been delayed till 11:25 (p.m.)," he said. "And we got here, checked (in) all our luggage and our flight's not even up there on the board."

Weather was not the only factor causing delays Thursday. Erica Kiernan, of St. Augustine, said her flight to England was delayed by a drone.

"Apparently, somebody decided to fly drones in the airspace over (Gatwick Airport), and now we have a five-hour delay,'" she said.

To help travel go as smoothly as possible, airport officials are offering travel tips to people flying home for the holidays.

Tip No. 1: Don’t wrap your presents before you fly.

Officials said if you show up with wrapped presents, it’s likely that security will stop you to unwrap them, which slows down security lines.

Tip No. 2: Arrive early. 

Airport officials are encouraging people to get arrive two to three hours before their flight.

Tip No. 3: Park in a different lot.

Officials said guests can park in garage C. They said the garage is $2 cheaper and will help out when the other garages start to fill up.

Here are five days Orlando International Airport officials expect will be the busiest this holiday season:

1. Sunday, Dec. 30
2. Sunday, Jan. 6
3. Wednesday, Jan. 2
4. Saturday, Dec. 29
5. Sunday, Dec. 23

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Cox Media Group