Airlines are getting back on schedule after severe weather led to delays and cancellations at airports in Texas Thursday. Fort Worth-based American Airlines expects Friday to be the busiest day of its holiday travel rush.
American expects 12.7 million passengers over the holiday travel season from December 18 through January 6. Friday alone, American has 6,400 flights on its schedule across its network.
At DFW Airport, American's biggest hub, passengers say they have noticed bigger crowds.
"Usually, it's not this bad," one woman flying to Portland with her husband said. "We fly every year at Christmas so we can visit my family."
A woman flying to Orlando said she knew to expect longer lines and a longer wait because she is flying with her kids.
"We have extra bags and stuff like that," she said. "It was so busy."
TSA urges passengers to arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. The organization says more families and novice fliers will come through security around holidays, so lines might move more slowly.
Over the holiday travel season, DFW Airport is expecting 4.7 million passengers, a 2.4% increase from last year. In anticipation of long-term growth, the airport has started construction on a sixth terminal and is also expanding Terminals A and C.
DFW encourages people to plan ahead by prepaying for parking or using DART or Trinity Metro to reach the airport. People can also track shuttle buses and wait times at security on the airport's website and app.
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