Four days during this extremely busy spring break travel period are expected to exceed 100,000 passengers, with the busiest day being March 15th, which is set to see more than 101,000 passengers pass through the airport's doors.
Other days with the highest passenger totals will be March 29th, March 22nd, and March 16th. To accommodate this record-breaking number of passengers, Tampa Airport’s management team has decided to offer a few unique tips to passengers looking for a smooth travel experience at what will be one of the busiest leisure-oriented airports for the next month.
The airport wants passengers to arrive early and take advantage of airport features
To avoid roadblocks during your travel experience during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, Tampa Airport wants to remind all passengers to arrive early for their flights, as this is crucial to handling increased passenger volumes.
The airline encourages all passengers to arrive a minimum of two hours before departure for domestic flights and advises a full three hours in advance for international departures.
The airport was quick to note that this is especially important for those flying from Airside A or Airside E, as checkpoint expansion projects are underway which limit the number of available TSA screening facilities.
When completed, these upgrades will make security a much smoother process at the airport, but in the meantime, passengers will need to be aware of the temporary congestion that these improvement efforts could likely cause.
Furthermore, upgrades to the airport’s shuttle system are also underway, which will result in higher wait times for those headed to Airside A and Airside C. Passengers traveling to these concourses should allot extra time for this transit.
Passengers are also encouraged to avoid congestion by using the airport’s Blue Express Curbside drop-off lanes when they are only traveling with carry-on luggage.
This offers a more convenient passenger experience as those traveling can bypass ticketing and baggage claim areas and instead walk directly into the security checkpoints.
This unique service gives passengers flying with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, or United Airlines to check their luggage and receive boarding passes before making their way over to the terminal building, which eliminates the need to passengers to carry heavy bags on the airport’s SkyConnect transfer train.
Passengers should be aware that remote bag checks must be completed at least 90 minutes before departure.
A brief overview of Tampa International Airport
Tampa International is the principal international airport serving the Greater Tampa area, and it is located around six miles west of Downtown Tampa.
It is owned and operated by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) and is one of the largest and most important airports in the American Southeast.
The facility offers nonstop flights to over 100 global destinations, including cities across the United States, South America, the Caribbean, Canada, Central America, and Europe.
Despite not being a hub for any major legacy airlines, the facility still offers a handful of international flights, including services to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) operated by Delta Air Lines.
