CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Transportation Security Administration is expanding screening hours at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in anticipation of a busy week of holiday travel.
The South Checkpoint, near the United Airlines counter, is open starting at 3:15 a.m. and the North and Central checkpoints are open at 3:45 a.m. to accommodate what is expected to be a heavy volume of traffic. The expanded hours will operate through Monday, Dec. 2.
Cleveland Hopkins is anticipating just over 300,000 travelers will pass through the airport during the 10-day period from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1.
Nationwide, TSA is expecting a record-breaking volume of travelers, particularly on what are expected to be the two busiest days of holiday flying, on Wednesday and Sunday.
The airport will have additional employees on hand to help ensure the system runs smoothly, including custodial and maintenance staff, customer service representatives and law enforcement officers.
The airport offers these tips for holiday travelers:
* Arrive at least two hours before scheduled departures to allow time for any weather issues, traffic congestion, parking, checking-in and going through the security
* Make a plan for parking before you arrive. The airport earlier this year launched a parking reservation system for its Smart Parking Garage. (Note: Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.) On-site parking availability can be monitored at clevelandairport.com.
* Picking up friends and family at the airport? Don’t circle the airport waiting for them to arrive. Instead, wait in the airport’s cell phone lot, located off Ohio 237, which can also be accessed via Jackson Road, which is now a two-way street.
Weather is likely to be the biggest variable in determining whether you get to your destination on time.
Keith Jaszka, a meteorologist with the Cleveland office of the National Weather Service, said travel in and around Northeast Ohio should not be impacted by weather on Tuesday or Wednesday during the day.
By late Wednesday and early Thursday, however, a storm system moving into the region is expected to bring a rain-snow mix, which could make travel somewhat less pleasant.
By Friday, Saturday and Sunday, however, things are likely to get more dicey.
Jaszka said areas east of Cleveland could see significant lake-effect snow through the weekend.
“It’s too soon to discuss exact amounts,” he said. But travelers headed to far Northeast Ohio, into northwest Pennsylvania and western New York should be prepared for snow to affect their travels. “It could be significant and impactful,” he said.