ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando International Airport is expecting to see some of its biggest crowds in months.
Monday is set to be the busiest day of the Memorial Day holiday travel period.
READ: Woman dies after being ejected from car on turnpike, troopers say
Travel leaders said this could be an indicator of what to expect this summer.
Many people said now that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, they are feeling more comfortable to get out and travel.
READ: 5 killed, 5 injured in South Florida when car flips and lands on top of Mercedes
Nearly 65,000 travelers are expected to pass through the Orlando airport alone on Monday. Last year, that number was just over 12,000.
“This was our first family trip since the pandemic, and it was exciting and exhausting and fulfilling. We made a lot of memories,” said Heather Ruccio.
READ: 2 dead, at least 20 wounded in shooting outside Miami banquet hall
Airport leaders said they are finally seeing crowds similar to pre-pandemic levels.
Rudy Alfaro and his wife were heading home to Chicago on Monday and wrapping up their trip to Orlando over Memorial Day weekend.
“(It’s) my first time being in the airport in two years because of COVID,” he said.
The Alfaros got to the airport early, thinking it would be a busy day, but said “it wasn’t bad.”
Brian Barney dropped off his family off at OIA.
Things were mostly slow, which was surprising to him.
“I figured they would be a lot more people traveling or coming back home,” he said.
The terminal C TSA line right now at MCO. Current wait time: 16-20 minutes. Not bad, but busier than we’ve seen during the pandemic. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/6loWyzay8x
— Ashley Edlund (@AshleyEdlund) May 30, 2021
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.
©2021 Cox Media Group
