The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is preparing for a busy Thanksgiving travel week.
The Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving are expected to be the busiest holiday travel days with about 17% more traffic than last year on the same days, airport officials said.
“Nine out of the top 10 travel days in IND history have occurred in 2023,” Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, said in a statement on the weekend. “And we’re anticipating more record-setting days with Thanksgiving holiday travel. Our employees are ready to welcome visitors to the Indy airport and ensure they have an outstanding customer experience before and after their Thanksgiving holiday.”
Airport officials say early morning flights from 5 a.m. – 8 a.m. account for nearly one-third of passenger traffic for the day and encourage travelers flying out during this timeframe to arrive at the terminal two hours before their departure time.
In Indy airport history, this year has the largest outbound capacity for Thanksgiving week. The airport is expected to break the record set in 2004 for the most Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving capacity and reach the second-highest Sunday-after-Thanksgiving capacity. For the entire week of Thanksgiving, airlines have the highest seats per departure in IND’s history, airport officials said.
“Along with the airport, TSA is prepared to welcome holiday travelers coming through the checkpoint and want to ensure that they have a smooth experience,” TSA’s Indiana Federal Security Director Aaron Batt said in a statement. “Arriving to the airport with extra time and knowing what can and can’t be packed in carry-on and checked bags, as well as having a little patience for our officers and your fellow passengers, will result in a better screening experience for everyone.”
In addition to anticipated increased passenger traffic, travelers should be prepared for new screening technology.
New advanced Computed Tomography (CT) technology is installed at all 14 lanes of IND’s TSA security checkpoints. These upgrades aim to improve the airport’s world-class customer experience, and passengers can minimize delays by keeping prohibited items out of carry-on bags and having a valid ID ready to present at the checkpoint, airport officials say.
Here are some travel tips from IAA:
- Passengers are encouraged to get to the airport two hours before their flights and check flight status online before arriving at the airport.
- To save time, passengers can sign up for TSA PreCheck at tsa.gov/precheck for a smoother screening process. This eliminates the need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops and light jackets.
- Those who are parking at the airport can check parking prices and capacity online at ind.com/
parking . - Pack smart – passengers should check for prohibited items and follow the 3-1-1 liquids rule. More information is available at tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips/refresh-your-memory-liquid-rules.
