Spring Break Travel Nearing Record Levels

Travelers Encouraged to Arrive Early for Departing Flights

Spring Break at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is likely to be the busiest ever and travelers are encouraged to arrive early due to the high passenger volume.

“As we’ve welcomed two new airlines and 15 new routes in the past year, passenger traffic at SDF is near record levels, especially for Spring Break,” said Dan Mann, Executive Director of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority. “We expect this to be our busiest week so far this year and strongly encourage folks to be prepared for high passenger volumes and to pack to their patience with them.”

For this year, scheduled seat capacity by the eight airlines at SDF is 99% compared to 2019, which was the airport’s best year ever for passenger traffic. With levels so close, there is a strong chance a new Spring Break passenger record will be set in 2022. From Thursday, March 31 through Monday, April 4, a total of 34,893 departing seats are scheduled for this five-day period. Thursday, March 31 and Friday, April 1 have slightly more departing seats as well compared to 2019, which looks to be the busiest travel days.

For those traveling for Spring Break, here are a few helpful tips to know before coming to the airport.

• Check-In online at home. Most airlines allow passengers to check-in 24-hours in advance and print a Boarding Pass at home or use a Mobile Boarding Pass via the airline’s app.
• Know the airline’s size and weight restrictions for checked or carry-on baggage. Nearly all airlines have fees associated with baggage and additional fees are possible if the maximum weight is exceeded.
• Be familiar all airport parking options. Due to the high passenger demand, some parking lots may be full and intermittently closed at the airport. SDF has two convenient credit-card-only options available – the Premier Lot and Express Shuttle Lot. Visit com to learn more.
• Arrive 2 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time. With expected passenger volumes, there could be longer wait times at check-in or through security checkpoint.
• Remember the 3-1-1 rule for carrying liquids, gels or aerosols through security checkpoint. Passengers are permitted to take 4-ounces of liquids, gels or aerosols including lotions, creams and paste in one, 1-quart size clear plastic bag. If unsure of an items status for carry-on or checked baggage, visit TSA.gov and click “What can I bring?”
• Charge your phone and other electronic devices. It’s also helpful to save key information such as an airline’s customer service phone number, hotel or lodging information and any ground transportation arrangements.

“We now have more than 35 nonstop destinations from Louisville, with many to Florida and other favorite ‘fun in the sun’ hot spots,” added Anthony Gilmer, Director of Marketing and Air Service Development. “While we’ve seen tremendous growth recently and people getting back into the habit of flying, it’s important that anyone traveling is encouraged to be here two hours before their flight departs to avoid any potential issues.”

Click here for information on amenities, including restaurants and retail shops at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.