Myrtle Beach airport sees increase in travelers for Labor Day Weekend

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — Many people traveled on Monday as Labor Day weekend winds down. Myrtle Beach International Airport is just one airport passengers are going through.

TSA officials said to expect airports to be more crowded until Wednesday when they expect holiday travel to decrease.

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Suitcases rolled across airport floors as people headed to their destinations on for the Labor Day holiday weekend.

“Compared to last time when we traveled where I guess the lines were long or things like that, it’s been pretty smooth,” said Jamison Pertell, who has been traveling back to Myrtle Beach after visiting family in New York.

TSA said 17 million passengers will come and go through airports from last Thursday until this Wednesday. That’s a passenger increase of around 8.5% compared to last year.

Over the holiday weekend, FlightAware listed thousands of delayed flights. One couple who came to Myrtle Beach on a vacation from Maryland told ABC15 they only had one hiccup in their journey.

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“When our connection to Detroit pilot had an issue, they had to get a different pilot but it was just a half-hour delay,” said Walter Wofford who’s heading to his home in Maryland. “But other than that, it was sweet, smooth.”

While many people travel, others anxiously wait to be reunited with family after being away for the holiday. One person waiting with a big smile on his face said he couldn’t wait to hug his family members and tell them he loves them.

ABC15 spoke with passengers who were traveling domestically. AAA said international travel over Labor Day weekend is down 4% which may have been due to international travel costs increasing 11%. TSA is expecting this weekend will end a record-breaking summer of air travel.