This week, the Salt Lake City International Airport expects nearly double the amount of Thanksgiving travelers it saw in 2020, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Airport spokeswoman Nancy Volmer anticipates that about 25,000 passengers will fly out of Salt Lake City the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, typically one of the busiest travel days of the year.
In 2019, about 26,500 people flew out of the new Salt Lake City airport. Last year, before COVID-19 vaccines were released, Volmer said, about 13,400 travelers flew out.
The airport and its vendors are increasing staff levels to accommodate for the extra foot traffic, Volmer said.
Travelers should arrive about two hours before domestic flights and about three hours ahead of international flights to ensure they have enough time to get through security and make it to their gate before plane doors close.
“It’s going to take time to get around,” Volmer said.
Masks are still required within the airport and on airplanes, Volmer said, and staffers will have masks available if they see a passenger without one.
“Most people are good about wearing masks and following protocol,” she said.
Nationally, air travel last year was down about 61% in the week before Thanksgiving compared to 2019, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This year, the Transportation Security Administration expects about 20 million passengers.
“We anticipate that travel may be very close to pre-pandemic levels this holiday, and we are staffed and prepared for the holiday travelers,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “With overall vaccination rates improving nationwide and greater confidence in healthy travel, there will be more people traveling so plan ahead, remain vigilant and practice kindness.”
Fewer than 1 million people flew in and out of the Salt Lake City airport last November — less than half the number of passengers in November 2019.
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