FORT LAUDERDALE-HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FLA. (WSVN) - Travelers at South Florida airports could face delays as millions of Americans prepare to head to their destinations for the holiday season.
7News cameras captured numerous delays at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Friday.
Glenn Cooper, who works as an air traffic controller, and his family waited more than four hours for their son’s flight to FLL to arrive.
“He was supposed to leave Norfolk this morning and be here at 11 o’clock, but because of the over-influx of flights on the east coast, he got delayed,” Cooper said. “It shows that he came from Norfolk, Virginia and shows all the tracks of everybody coming down. Being an air traffic controller, I have an insight to a lot of that.”
According to officials, 44 flight delays have been reported at FLL along with two cancellations. This year’s holiday travel season spans from Dec. 21 until Jan. 6, when most people will return home for the new year.
“It’s holiday times,” Cooper said. “The airlines overbook a lot of flights and delays — weather has a lot to do with it as well, but with the airspace system, they get delayed, especially around the holiday times coming in because you can only put so many airplanes in the same spot, and it slows a lot of things down.”
Lots of delays and airport traffic could be seen at Miami International Airport as people try to fly to see family or travel home for the holidays.
“I’m going to Colombia to see my family,” traveler Valentina Hurtado said. “I’m so excited. I’m ready to dance. I’m ready to get my party on. I’m ready to eat. I’m ready to get fat from all the food.”
Despite the delays, some travelers at the airport said that the holiday cheer is better than ever because of the well-performing economy.
More than 115 million people are expected to travel this holiday season, which is the most in more than 20 years.
Travelers are advised to sign up for text message alerts on their phones to see if their flight status has changed.
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