CHARLOTTE — Spring break travelers are advised to prepare for long lines at Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s security checkpoints and are encouraged arrive at the airport three hours early for their flight.
Airport officials said lines would be especially long this Friday through Sunday.
More than 32,000 travelers are expected to fly from Charlotte Douglas on Friday and Sunday. Another more than 28,000 are expected Saturday, airport officials said.
The airport averages 23,000 passengers on a normal day.
An additional 60,000 passengers are expected to connect through the Charlotte airport each day over the weekend, officials said.
The delays come even after efforts from the airport to hire new TSA agents ahead of the spring break rush.
Channel 9 news anchor Damany Lewis spoke to TSA at the beginning of March after it hired 35 new TSA agents and trained them ahead of the spring break rush.
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TSA Charlotte offered a signing bonus double that of most airports nationwide to help deal with shortages.
Part of the spring break rush is due to classes being out for many students around the country.
Spring break starts Monday, April 11 for CMS students through April 19, but many students and their parents are jetting off this weekend.
As of Friday afternoon, there were 61 delays at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and 12 cancellations, according to flightaware.com.
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