Here's what to expect at the Indianapolis Airport during Thanksgiving week
For Thanksgiving travelers heading to the Indianapolis International Airport over the next few days, here are a few things travelers should keep in mind.
How busy will it be this year?
The airport is currently on track to break records with how busy it will be during the holiday. So far, they have seen 16% more travelers than this time last year.
As well as 9 of the 10 busiest days ever recorded at the airport have been this year alone. Only the 2012 Super Bowl hosted in Indianapolis has not been surpassed.
The Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving are predicted to increase by 17% than last year and additional TSA personnel have been scheduled to accommodate the crowds.
While 2 million travelers are typically screened in a day in Indianapolis, this year the airport is projected to screen up to 2.9 million on Sunday, which would make it TSA's busiest day on record.
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When are the busiest times?
Aaron Batt, the Federal Security Director for the state of Indiana, recommends arriving at the airport early, especially during the 5-8 a.m. timeframe as a third of the traffic for the entire day typically occurs during this time.
Any updates with security?
In May, Computer Tomography (CT) was implemented into the Indianapolis International Airport to screen assessable property at checkpoints.
CT scanning produces three-dimensional images and allows the screeners to rotate the image 360 degrees for a more complete view of the carry-on contents.
"It gives us a greater security capability, better detection, but at the same time it does take a little bit longer to get through the process," Batt said. "We have kind of been working with our officers to get a little bit more efficient."
CT scanning was previously covered by IndyStar in 2018, when the technology was first implemented, but now every security lane and checkpoint has it.
It is recommended that travelers enroll in or renew their TSA PreCheck membership to receive expedited screening and spend less time in line.
According to Batt, the airport tries to maintain a 10-minute wait time for TSA PreCheck and a 30-minute wait time for everyone else.
Firearms remain a concern at the airport
IndyStar reported in September that the number of guns detected at security checkpoints this year was 75, but the number has only increased since then.
"We've seen a record number of firearms discovered at our security checkpoint this year," Batt said. "We've seen 86 this calendar year compared to 68 last year and we've still got more than a month."
When a firearm is found inside a bag, the entire lane must be shut down, which creates longer waits in the other lanes, making the whole process less efficient, Batt said.
Batt recommends careful packing to avoid entering the airport with one accidentally.
"If you can start with an empty bag when we start to travel, that's the best recommendation I can give you," Batt said.
More: TSA has stopped a record number of guns at Indianapolis' airport, and the year isn't over
Anything to know about parking?
If you're not traveling out this year, but you're picking somebody up, Batt recommends that you use the cellphone lot as a place to touch base with whoever you are picking up before heading to the terminal.
"A lot of times people will call and they've indicated to those picking them up that they've arrived, but they haven't got their checked baggage, so we definitely recommend, use the cellphone lot, to avoid congestion and backup at the arrival and or drop off areas," Batt said.
For parking it is recommended to check their website at IND.com/parking to see where spots are available and pricing, whether you are looking to park in the garage or long-term lot.
Contact IndyStar reporter Katie Wiseman at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Thanksgiving travel 2023: What to expect at the Indianapolis Airport
