The Thanksgiving travel rush is on, with people across Louisiana and the United States hitting the road or flying the friendly skies to visit family.
However, Louis Armstrong International Airport officials don't expect crowds to be larger than they were last year.
"It's gonna be, probably, on par with what we saw last year and the year before," MSY communications director Erin Burns said. "It'll still be busy, but not quite as busy or more busy than last year."
Burns says demand for flights this year is not as high as it has been over the last couple of years. She said a variety of factors, including the economy, is to blame.
"Passenger activity across the nation is just a little bit... the demand is a little bit softer this year," Burns said.
Still, Burns says the next few days at the airport will be hectic.
"We're expecting over 327,000 available airline seats to and from the New Orleans airport," Burns said. "This coming Sunday, November 30, is supposed to be the busiest travel day with over 55,000 available seats."
Even though this year's Thanksgiving crowd may not surpass last years, Burns still urges travelers to get to the airport early.
"People should always, always, always give (themselves) at least two hours before your scheduled departure," Burns said.