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Holiday travel off to good start at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport

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Holiday travel off to good start at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – People come from near and far to spend Christmas morning with loved ones.

Each passenger at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport was met with smiles and hugs after spending hours in airports across the country, including a two-hour delay before boarding their flight from Houston to Jones County.

“So in order to get here I have to come through Houston. So my flight out of Dallas was delayed and, luckily, this one coming here was delayed so I was able to make it. Or else I would’ve missed this flight and not been able to come until the later afternoon flight,” said Valerie Easterling, from Dallas.

In some cases, passengers rose before the sun, all in anticipation of seeing their loved ones.

“We woke up with our baby at 2:30 in the morning to catch our flight at 5 a.m. To get delayed for 2 hours,” said Claudia Gray, from Edinburg, Texas.

“I had a red-eye flight. The flight departed at 12:45 from LAX. 12:45 a.m.,” said Ryan Taylor, from Los Angeles.

Leaders at the airport say Monday’s numbers are consistent with reports of packed flights nationwide.

“Today is a day of 48 on the 50-seater for this flight here, and there’ll be 22 tonight, so 70 out of 100 seats is what the airline’s looking for, they like 70 or better. So our people are responding, they’re using the airport for their travel, and I think they’re starting to understand the convenience of using the local airport,” said Tom Heanue, Executive Director at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport.

Now, travelers are just excited to make new memories, pushing delays and long days to the back of their minds.

“This would be my first Christmas without my father. He passed back in January. So, I’m getting to spend it with my mother and my niece. I’m very thankful to be here,” said Easterling.

Others are excited for rest and relaxation after a long day.

“We’re going to go take a nap as soon as we get to Soso. It’s a little bit of a drive all the way back but, it’s the first time with the baby for Christmas so we’re pretty excited,” Gray said.

Airport leaders also recommend anyone traveling out the airport after Christmas to arrive at least an hour before their flight and make sure firearms are not in their carry-ons.

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