Pittsburgh International Airport, TSA prepares for days of hard travel during Thanksgiving – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – More than 53 million people are expected to take to the roads and skies on Thanksgiving Day, AAA reports.

Given this, it is recommended to arrive at the airport about three hours before the flight, so if the queues are long, you can still get to the gate on time.

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Of course, airports are not without a fight.

Due to the fact that the TSA now requires vaccination against COVID-19, there are concerns about possible staff shortages. However, Pittsburgh International Airport says it has not affected them.

Don’t be surprised if flights are canceled or delayed as travel begins to return to pre-pandemic levels.

«[It’s] on a par with trips to the pandemic for us, “said Bob Kerlick, a spokesman for Pittsburgh International Airport.” There’s a lot of delayed demand, especially from travelers. “

He said that with the onset of the holiday season, the demand for air travel has grown significantly.

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“We stayed here last year, but yes, even just sitting here, there are a lot of people there,” said Natalie McCarga of Beaver Falls.

The number of trips is usually large on holidays, but the busiest day of travel, TSA said, is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Usually people experience delays and long queues, but this year a new reason has emerged. Despite the reduction in travel during the year, TSA says they are looking to seize more weapons than ever.

They recently sent out a warning to those who may bring a gun to the airport to make sure it is properly packed so that it does not delay the queue when police arrive and does not end in a large fine.

Jim Gerry of AAA says the busiest days on the roads vary depending on how you want to get from point A to point B.

“Today is definitely one of the busiest days you will see on the road. The day before Thanksgiving is always a lot of travelers, especially between 12:00 and 20:00. The other day we expect a lot of people to go back on Sunday. It will be another busy day. Because there are about 13% more people traveling, you have to plan as if no matter when you leave, you will have some traffic. ”

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Try to avoid roads if you can, because more than 90% of travelers are projected to be drivers, Gariti said.