Labor Day weekend is shaping up to be a busy one at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City Beach, with airport officials expecting passenger numbers to tick slightly higher than last year. The TSA is anticipating millions of travelers nationwide over the holiday, and ECP is feeling that pressure alongside the rest of the country.
ECP Executive Director Parker McClellan is urging travelers to plan ahead, especially when it comes to parking. Lots are expected to fill quickly, and the airport will be routing drivers to overflow parking, which is served by a regularly running shuttle to the terminals. Traffic control staff will also be on hand to keep pick-up and drop-off moving smoothly.
Weather could be a factor for Monday departures in particular. McClellan noted that afternoon conditions across the country may trigger delays, and he's encouraging travelers to check their airline's website before heading to the airport to confirm their flight status.
Travelers already passing through ECP this weekend have noted the realities of peak holiday travel — one visitor arriving from Nebraska described a routine five-hour flight stretching into a 36-hour ordeal. Airport officials say official passenger counts for the weekend won't be available until next month.
This story was originally reported by WJHG.
