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Chicago O'Hare Busiest Airport for Memorial Day Weekend Travel for Second Consecutive Year

Posted on: Monday, 21 May 2007, 09:00 CDT

CHICAGO, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The official kickoff of summer travel season, Memorial Day, is fast approaching! Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com/), with its heritage of keeping travelers a step ahead, announces the weekend's busiest airports, based on customer bookings. The latest edition of the Orbitz Insider Index also includes staff picks on the better airport to consider for your trip when you fly to your summer celebration.

"Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the summer season with long weekend trips that make airports much busier that usual," said Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandising for Orbitz. "Travelers should prepare for longer lines and wait times. Simple steps like signing up for OrbitzTLC Alerts and using the airline kiosks to check-in can help ease the potential hassles and wait times."

Orbitz Insider Index - Memorial Day Weekend Busiest Airports

Orbitz examined the advanced ticket sales of Memorial Day weekend 2007 to determine which are the busiest airports in the world for outbound U.S. travelers. For the second year in a row, Chicago O'Hare ranked as the nation's busiest airport, with London Heathrow taking the honors amongst international airports.

Orbitz also used booking data to determine the busiest days to travel over the holiday weekend. Friday, May 25th, will be the busiest day to travel to the airport, whereas Sunday, May 27th, travelers can find some respite from the crowds by returning home a day early.

The Orbitz Insider Index Busiest U.S. and International Airports Over Memorial Day Weekend* U.S. International 1 Chicago 1 London Heathrow O'Hare International International 2 Los Angeles 2 Cancun International International 3 Denver International 3 Rome- Leonardo Da Vinci (Fiumicino) 4 Atlanta International 4 Paris Roissy Charles De Gaulle 5 New York LaGuardia 5 Barcelona International 6 San Francisco 6 Toronto Pearson International International 7 Newark International 7 Frankfurt Airport

Orbitz knows that spending some unexpected quality time at the airport can often be inevitable. The Orbitz Insiders have hand picked some of their favorite domestic airports where they find less hassles and more amenities that help make often delayed travelers, happier travelers. From spa amenities to specialty foods, these staff picks shows off the airports where you might not mind spending a little extra time.

Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport (MKE):

As an alternative to Chicago airports, this friendly, easy-to-navigate international hub is a great second choice. A short drive from Chicago, the airport boasts simple departure drop-offs and arrival pick-ups. They even have an Amtrak train station on the airport grounds for easy travel to downtown Milwaukee or Chicago's Union Station. Crowds are nominal compared to O'Hare, and parking is covered, affordable and close to the terminal. The airport terminal has a decent selection of food choices, including places to buy fresh cheese curds and a pub hosted by one of Wisconsin's most famous brewers. One of the coolest features is a comfortable lounge with a wide screen TV, usually playing sports to entertain folks waiting for arriving friends or family. There is also a small, but interesting aviation museum exhibit. Plasma TVs with visuals of identified planes flying into Milwaukee makes it simple to track the progress of arriving passengers. With technology like that -- maybe you have time for another cheese curd and a brew!

Honolulu Airport (HNL):

With its light traffic flow into the terminals, open-air check in area and beautiful weather, even heading to the airport here is a delight. The airport boasts a beautiful outdoor garden area where travelers can relax, practice having a "Zen moment" or grab a quick tan. Stop by the main terminal for free hula shows if you have some extra time. Arriving guests to Honolulu are typically greeted with traditional Hawaiian leis and a warm "Aloha". The best part of this airport is that when you get off the plane, you are in Hawaii. What could be better?

Denver International Airport (DIA):

Denver International is a very large airport, but don't let that deceive you. This airport is easy to navigate and offers plenty of amenities for the traveler with some extra time between connections. From the beautiful water fountain as you head into security, to the enormous tent-like ceiling that gives the illusion of being in an air balloon, the space is pleasing to the eye. Travelers with some time on their hands can get haircuts, manicures, massages, shop in various stores, or enjoy over 40 restaurants. Sports fans will enjoy the big screen TV's in the sports bars. All in all, each concourse offers a variety of culture, art, and great architecture. It is also fun to ride the trams between concourses, more fun than walking anyway!

San Francisco International Airport (SFO):

San Francisco International Airport offers so much more than the average air depot. This coastal airport boasts more museums than any other airport in the nation, ranging from aviation to an aquarium. The airport also includes a full service salon for quick cut and style between flights. If relaxing at the gate is more your style, the airport offers DVD players and rentals as well. If your kids need to burn off some energy before a long flight take them to The Kids Spot, San Francisco International Airport's very own interactive indoor playground. As for food, sample the multiple vendors selling Dungeness crab and Asian influenced sushi and California fusion cuisine. And don't forget to avoid the heavy California highway traffic by taking the BART, the city's public transportation system, directly to the airport.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT):

The main hub for North and South Carolina, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport is also a great alternative to the extremely busy Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Just this past March the airport became completely smoke-free offering travelers a healthier environment. Valet services are available for drivers and a car detailing service can even be requested while you are away on your trip. The Atrium includes a tree-lined walkway that is full of white wooden rocking chairs to help travelers relax before their flights. Weary travelers can also relax to tunes being played on the grand piano while dining in the nearby eateries.

Providence's T.F. Green Airport (PVD):

T.F. Green is not a large international gateway, but that's the charm of this airport. T.F., which is actually located in Warwick, Rhode Island (not Providence), boasts a less hectic way to travel with few lines, even during the holidays. It is very convenient for New Englanders -- a very short drive to Connecticut, Boston, and just a little over 3 hours to New York City. There's a tasty restaurant with glass walls overlooking the arrival/departure area where friends and family can comfortably wait. Free Wi-fi access is a big plus for business travelers. T.F. green offers a good selection of food, drink and entertainment for an airport of its size (try the coffee milk, trust us!). Whether you are parking or renting a vehicle, the walk from the baggage claim to your car is an easy stroll. And once you're out on the road, Rhode Island's major interstate, I-95, is easily accessible. Anyone heading to New England should give it consideration.

About Orbitz:

Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com/) is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and purchase a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Since launching its website http://www.orbitz.com/ to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz has become one of the largest online travel sites in the world based on gross travel bookings. On Orbitz, consumers can search more than 80,000 suppliers worldwide including airlines, hotels and car rental companies. Orbitz is a Travelport brand. Travelport (http://www.travelport.com/) is one of the largest and most geographically diverse travel companies, dedicated to creating the exceptional travel experiences the world demands.

Orbitz

CONTACT: Jeanenne Diefendorf of Orbitz, +1-312-894-4986,jdiefendorf@orbitz.com; or Bryan Olender of Brodeur, +1-617-587-2044,bolender@brodeur.com, for Orbitz

Web site: http://www.orbitz.com/http://www.travelport.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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