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Delays Possible at Airport; Construction May Impede Walk to Flight

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 November 2005, 03:00 CST

By WAYNE HEILMAN THE GAZETTE

Thanksgiving week air travelers will have to dodge construction in the parking lot and the terminal at the Colorado Springs airport.

The biggest hassle is likely to be parking -- because of construction, passengers will compete for 500 fewer spaces in the long-term lot. Airport officials said they don't expect to run out of parking spaces but can open temporary overflow lots with 600 spaces if needed.

Another airport construction project travelers will face this week, expanding the area in and around the security checkpoint in the terminal, is not expected to cause delays, said John McGinley, the airport's assistant aviation director for operations and maintenance.

When the project is done Dec. 5, there will be waiting areas before the checkpoint and an expanded screening area.

More than 24,000 passengers are expected to fly out of the Springs this week, and airport officials have added two extra shuttle buses to ferry passengers between the long-term parking lot and the passenger terminal.

Today, Wednesday and Sunday will be the busiest of the week, with more than 4,000 passengers boarding flights each day. Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a slow day for travel.

Even though passengers this week will vie for 4,500 spaces in the longterm lot compared with the usual 5,000, officials recommend passengers arrive in the terminal -- after parking their vehicles or being dropped off -- at least 90 minutes before their flights are scheduled to leave.

Those picking up passengers may have an easier go of it. Short- term parking will have 100 more spaces than the usual 400.

The entire short-term lot will be shut down from Dec. 7-20, McGinley said. During that time, the extra shuttle buses will continue to ferry passengers between the long-term lot and terminal.

AAA forecasts air travel this week will increase 1.3 percent from last year to 4.64 million passengers. Fares overall are down 4.8 percent from a year ago, mostly from expanded service on some routes by discount airlines.

Despite expected heavier travel, those who waited until the last minute have options. Seats are still available on flights Wednesday from the Springs to Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, said Russ Knight, office manager for Globe Travel Service.

"The problem is trying to get back on Sunday and Monday -- the planes are full, so you would have to come back on Saturday or Tuesday," Knight said. "If you can be flexible, you can still probably get a ticket, especially if you are able to fly on Thanksgiving."

Passengers leaving from Denver International Airport should expect big crowds -- the nation's fifth-busiest airport expects nearly 1 million passengers this week.

Passenger traffic at DIA is up nearly 3 percent from a year ago for the first nine months of the year.

DIA has added 3,400 spaces to its Pikes Peak Shuttle Lot this year in hopes of avoiding last year's parking problems. The expanded lot and the nearby Elbert Shuttle Lot cost $5 a day and usually fill up first.

Federal airline security rules are little changed from last year, with one major exception -- passengers no longer may bring lighters on any flight.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Check these Web sites for upthe-minute information about holiday air travel and tips about avoiding security screening delays:

Colorado Springs Airport:

www.springsgov.com/AirportIndex.asp

Denver International Airport: www.flydenver.com

U.S. Transportation Security Administration: www.tsa.gov/public/

Federal Aviation Administration on flight delays: www.fly.faa.gov/ flyfaa/usmap.jsp

Source: Gazette, The; Colorado Springs, Colo.

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