Holiday travel smooth at Tampa airport
Only a few flights delayed in Tampa, officials report
From staff reports
TAMPA -- Only a handful of flights were delayed at Tampa International Airport on Sunday, the day airport officials say is typically the busiest of the year.
"We have about 1,000 more travelers than on Wednesday," said airport spokeswoman Janet Zink.
The Transportation Security Administration adjusted its staffing levels to have more security on hand during the peak times, Zink said.
Thanksgiving holiday travel in Florida was expected to increase 3.6 percent compared with a year ago, to 2.2 million people, according to The AAA Auto Club Group.
Air travel was expected to increase 1.8 percent from last year, AAA said.
Despite the number of people traveling the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Petrisse Briell didn't encounter major issues while flying from Tampa to Boston on Sunday morning.
"I thought it went very smoothly. I was surprised," Briell said. "Of course, we did get up at 4 in the morning."
Norb Petr was relieved to make it to Tampa on time Sunday.
"We've never traveled on a holiday weekend before, and it had me a little nervous," said Petr, a Baltimore resident who flew into Tampa for a cruise.
"We allotted the usual amount of time, but we should've allotted a little bit more because of the holiday traffic," Petr said.
Airlines typically carry 8 percent of holiday travelers, according to AAA.
Auto travelers make up 90 percent of all travelers, while buses and trains make up 2 percent.
But traffic seemed like a normal weekend day for Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Harold Frear, who was patrolling Interstate 275 near the Sunshine Skyway on Sunday afternoon.
"The weekend seemed smooth -- now it's not particularly heavy for a Sunday," Frear said.
Photo credit: JIM REED/STAFF
Photo: Travelers navigate Southwest Airlines' ticket counter Sunday morning at Tampa International Airport during what transportation officials say is the busiest travel day of the year.
Photo: Thanksgiving travel in Florida was expected to increase 3.6 percent compared with a year ago.
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