When will the Akron-Canton Airport be busiest for spring break travel?
Spring break season is underway, making for crowds at airports across the country as travelers take to the skies.
The Akron-Canton Airport is no exception, as spring break travel is one of the busiest times of the year.
“Our parking lots are very full, which is an indicator that people are heading out,” said Lisa Dalpiaz, the vice president of air service and business development at the Akron-Canton Airport. “Most of our lots are over 75% full, which is great.”
In anticipation of crowds, Dalpiaz said the airport has added a security line to assist with the influx of traffic, and airlines have done well to ensure that ample staffing is available for travelers.
“If you’ve been through the Akron-Canton Airport, you know that you generally don’t have to wait longer than 10 minutes in the regular line, less than five minutes in TSA pre-check,” she said. “That’s something we want to continue even during out busier times.”
Where are spring break travelers headed?
Generally, Dalpiaz said, folks are flocking toward popular destination hubs with warmer climates.
“We see quite a bit of travel to Florida,” she said. “A lot of the travel that we see is dictated by the number of seats we have going to certain markets and the frequency.”
Dalpiaz said destinations vary based on the type of flight, with nonstop flights being more popular for destinations where the airport has connecting hubs, like Charleston and Chicago. There’s also a lot of people traveling internationally now.
“Folks are taking advantage of really great fares out of Akron-Canton, and they’re going international to Europe,” she said. “There’s a lot of interest in … places that basically have been on folks’ bucket lists.”
When will the airport be busiest?
For spring break travel, the Akron-Canton Airport’s busiest days thus far were March 3 and March 7, aligning with spring break for many colleges and universities. The airport is projecting its busiest days ahead to be April 3 and April 6, with K-12 spring breaks expected to draw crowds.
“We saw quite a bit of college travel in the past couple of weeks,” she said. “Many of the local school districts are starting their spring break last Friday or this Monday, so there’s definitely more people who are coming through.”
When are CAK’s busiest days during the week?
Things tend to pick up for the airport as the weekend approaches.
“Thursday and Sunday are our busiest days on average, and that holds true throughout the spring break,” Dalpiaz said. “We have four days (of the week) that are busiest … Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.”
What issues are travelers running into at the airport during this time?
Of all of the problems that may arise during air travel, Dalpiaz said the most common issues concern luggage.
“(Travelers) either don’t know what their luggage allowance is, or they forget to book that they were going to have luggage before they got to the airport,” she said. “It is always cheaper to book your bags online before you get to the airport, or to know … your baggage allowance.”
Checking bags can cause issues as well, as airlines tend to recommend giving yourself ample time to get through the line.
“(It’s) just commonplace with all the airlines that they need you to have your bag checked 45 minutes before the flight leaves,” Dalpiaz said. “That way, they have time to get it on the plane.”
Dalpiaz said travelers with carry-ons should also double check to make sure any liquid cells or aerosols align with TSA guidelines.
“That has to be 3.4 ounces or less,” she said. “So toothpaste, contact solution, things like that, they need to be compliant with TSA to go through your carry-on bag.”
Where are the most popular spring break destinations from CAK?
Here are the most popular destinations out of the Akron-Canton Airport:
- Orlando
- Fort Myers
- Tampa/St. Pete
- Fort Lauderdale
- Sarasota
- Charleston
- Chicago
- Charlotte
- Raleigh/Durham
- Savannah
- Nashville
link
