Holiday travel keeps Austin-Bergstrom busy before New Year’s Day

AUSTIN, Texas – It’s one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

“I just think everyone is going home for New Year’s and for the holiday,” said Ariya Hemati, a flyer. “Kinda of kicking off 2025.”

AAA expects this weekend to help set a national record for travel with 9.1 million Texans on the move.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport plans to see 150,000 flyers come through until New Year’s. For drop-offs on Sunday, it’s busy and hard to find parking. 

“Full, he’s all the way in B7,” said Iris Salazar, who’s dropping off her daughter. “We come like in the summer and pick her up, and it’s not like this.”

Others flying out of Austin took the advice “arrive at the airport early” literally.

“I’m actually supposed to fly out tomorrow, but I came a day early,” said Hemati, who admitted that was an accident, but also that he’s just glad he knows what to expect Monday.

“The airport was pretty busy, it was a little chaotic, so I’m glad I didn’t fly out today and luckily I have a ride coming to pick me up,” said Hemati.

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For people flying in, the holiday rush is more smooth sailing.

“It was pretty good,” said Dan Healey. “I expected…flew out of Philly and I expected it to be crowded. I went to my normal parking area, and there was nobody there. So I guess there ain’t a lot of people either trying to get out of Philly or get back in so they can freeze to death.”

With more people moving to Austin and choosing its December sunshine over colder temps up north, AUS will continue its multi-million-dollar expansion project in 2025.

“Growing up here, I know it’s a growing city, so another airport or a bigger airport would definitely help,” said Hemati.

About a hundred flights were delayed on Sunday. That number was more than doubled on Saturday thanks to storms in other parts of the state.

“Just get here early,” said Hemati. “Don’t count on TSA precheck I should say. The line is pretty long here too so just be prepared for lines.”

The airport always recommends arriving two and a half hours early for domestic flights and three for international. The busyness is expected to last through New Year’s Day.