Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Prepares For Its Busiest Thanksgiving Weekend In 4 Years

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has reacted to the upcoming Thanksgiving peak travel period by opening up a second cell phone waiting lot this week that doubles the capacity for motorists to wait before picking up arriving passengers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). According to MAC, the additional capacity will be sought after since the airport will see many travelers and visitors over the next few days due to people traveling for Thanksgiving throughout the country.

Enhancing the passenger experience

According to Brian Ryks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MAC, the extra capacity is a way for the airport to improve the passenger experience by “meeting the growing demand for free, safe, and convenient spaces for drivers to wait before picking up passengers.”

“The lots help reduce traffic congestion near the terminals because they eliminate the need for drivers to circle the airport before their party arrives at the pick-up zones.”

According to the commission, MSP is expecting its busiest Thanksgiving travel period since 2019, with some peak times approaching levels last seen in 2019. The airport’s booking information showed that November 22 will be the busiest day for the airport during the period, with around “37,000 passengers projected to be screened at MSP’s security checkpoints.” On November 17, when the travel period would start, 34,000 travelers should be screened at the site’s facilities, while on the last day of the peak period, on November 26, more than 34,000 should board aircraft at MSP.

“The airport is also anticipating an increase in connecting travelers, who clear security at other airports before traveling through MSP.”

According to Cirium data, there were 22,086 scheduled seats from and to MSP between November 28 and December 1, 2019. Between November 22 and November 26, 2022, data showed 19,154 scheduled seats from/to MSP, which rose to 21,284 between November 22 and November 26, 2023. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) latest data showed that in August 2023, Delta Air Lines held a 57.7% market share at MSP, with the second-largest airline being Delta’s regional affiliate, SkyWest, with a 9.49% market share at the Twin Cities’ main airport.

Photo: Deyan G. Georgiev | Shutterstock

Read more: Serving The Twin Cities: A Brief History Of Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport

Smooth travel tips

The MAC shared several tips on ensuring a smooth travel experience during this busy period. Firstly, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport two and three hours before their domestic and international flights, respectively. The commission noted that the airport will have additional staff at its ticketing lobbies to “direct passengers to appropriate lines and help with wayfinding.” Furthermore, travelers traveling through Terminal 1 should review checkpoint wait time boards, while Terminal 2 passengers can book a security line spot for free, yet the airport warned that capacity is limited. In addition, MAC encouraged booking a parking spot online to ensure parking space and potentially capture the lowest daily rates, with bookings having to be done 12 hours before arrival.

Photo: Jacob Boomsma | Shutterstock

Meanwhile, the Transport Security Administration (TSA) expects this holiday travel season to be the busiest ever. TSA said that between November 17 and November 28, it anticipates to screen 30 million passengers, noting that Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are the two busiest days for travel. In addition, the TSA indicated that there are 17.6 million passengers part of the TSA PreCheck program.

Read more: 5 Top Tips For Getting Through TSA Screening Faster

Sources: Cirium