Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is prepared for increased summer traffic, a local airport official said.
Finding a parking spot at Tampa International Airport could be a bigger headache for summer travelers than security delays predicted at the nation's airports during June, July and August.
Passenger growth across the U.S. is expected to bring air travel up to pre-9/11 levels this year, according to the Associated Press.
Eleven new security personnel at Sarasota-Bradenton Airport could help process increased traffic brought on by AirTran Airways, which started daily service in December.
"We have adequate space. I'm not expecting any delay problems from a security standpoint," said Fred Piccolo, chief executive of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
He anticipates a busier summer than the one in 2004.
"We still think we will have extremely convenient processing," he said.
At Tampa International, last year was a record-breaker, with air traffic up more than 12 percent.
This year continues the trend, with double-digit increases in the first quarter.
Sarasota-Bradenton saw increases close to 20 percent in the first quarter.
"We're at our parking capacity," said Brenda Geoghagen, spokesperson for Tampa International Airport.
A new parking garage scheduled for completion in November caused 1,000 to 1,500 parking spaces to go away, temporarily, in the long-term economy parking lot at Tampa Airport.
That's the place where you can park for $7 a day - the airport's least expensive option.
Tampa airport officials encourage summer travelers to share rides, take a taxi or limo, or have a friend drop them at the airport.
Parking is still available in overflow lots and other areas of the airport. There's just less to go around.
"Parking is going to be our issue, not necessarily crowding or long waits inside the terminal," Geoghagen said. "It's going to be busy, but we need to get them parked before we can get them in the terminal."
Last summer's hurricanes shut down airfields for two days at local airports and others around the state.
It's a scenario that caused a ripple effect.
"Once you have a day of no flights arriving or departing, you play catch-up for a week," Geoghagen said.
Parking has not yet reached capacity at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, Piccolo said.
