BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – July tends to be one of the busiest months for passengers at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and other airports across the country.
Those flying on Saturday had to arrive a little earlier than usual to ensure they made it to their flight on time.
The sound of luggage wheels and brief conversations between passengers filled Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport on Saturday.
Lines of people formed around the terminal waiting to be checked in by TSA.
ECP airport officials, during the busy summer season, ask passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before their departure time.
“Airport officials are recommending that passengers traveling during this summer season, if traveling on a weekend, arrive at least 3 hours prior to their scheduled departure time,” said ECP Airport Public Relations Consultant Katie Spillman.
Spillman says these requests apply mostly to weekends.
“And if you’re traveling on a normal weekday during the summer season, encourage passengers to arrive about 2 hours before departure to allow enough time to park, get to the terminal and, of course, get through the TSA checkpoint,” Spillman said.
Airport officials say the early arrivals apply even to those using TSA pre-check. More than 200,000 passengers passed through ECP Airport last month and expect many more to pass through this month.
“We continue to see high numbers in July as well,” Spillman added.
A father and daughter duo from Georgia were waiting at the terminal to pick up a relative.
“Take a sister-in-law who’s coming from Austin, Texas. Going from one hot part of the country to another hot part,” said passenger Rick Massey.
The Masseys say that even with the long lines, airport staff are managing them well.
“I’m from Atlanta. Big LA airport. Great, but what about an hour wait? I mean, it’s not the best, but, you know, hey, they’re doing well with the holiday weekend,” said passengers Abby and Rick Massey.
Another passenger was making a special delivery to be sent to New York.
Dog breeder Kate Burch arrived at the airport on Saturday morning with a poodle named Drake.
“So Drake is a standard poodle. We actually breed standard poodles and we breed golden doodles. We have a farm with no sheep, no chickens, no nothing. They all live in our house with us. So we’re not like your standard kennels,” said Nokoluma Farm owner Kate Burch.
Drake met his new owner and they flew to the Big Apple later that night.
“It’s amazing. We actually have a lot of our pets that end up becoming service dogs as well. So breeding for that temperament and just knowing that they’re going to loving homes is what we strive for,” Burch said.
The TSA at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport can only screen 450 to 500 passengers per hour.
