Flying for Christmas? Here’s how Atlanta’s airport is preparing for holiday travel

ATLANTA — Are you going to be one of the millions of people set to flying the friendly skies for the Christmas holiday? Atlanta’s airport said it is ready for the massive holiday travel period.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said it expects more than 3.7 million passengers during the holiday period from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4, 2022.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Airport officials, along with Atlanta police, the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection are taking steps to ensure that passengers have a safe, efficient, and enjoyable experience as they travel with their families and loved ones through the airport.

Here are some tips officials are giving for travelers:

• Arrive inside the airport two hours before domestic departure flight times, three hours for international flights
• Utilize mass transit like MARTA, rideshare options like Lyft and Uber and taxis
• Follow airport and airline social media accounts for timely updates
• Check the Airport’s website for the most up-to-date parking information and security wait times

Travelers who haven’t been to the airport since before the COVID-19 pandemic will notice enhanced safety measures and guidelines, new TSA requirements, as well as a new rideshare pickup location – all of which will impact travel.

RELATED STORIES:

• Georgians rush to get COVID-19 test head of Christmas holiday
• Christmas travel 2021: Best, worst times to hit the road
• Holiday shipping: USPS issues 2021 deadlines as crunch looms

Rideshare pickup locations for Uber and Lyft have moved to the North lower level. The move is expected to increase efficiency and allow rideshare drivers to enter and exit uninterrupted with a ticketless system. This dedicated pickup area is for rideshares only, removing the element of personal vehicles, commercial vehicles, and buses competing for parking in the same place. Because of this change, the airport moved the entrance to the North Economy parking lot. Passengers using the North Economy lot will travel the same path but will turn left into the lot approximately 100 yards before the former entrance. Dynamic signage is displayed to inform the public about the new entrance.

Christmas eve closing times for major retailers (NCD)

©2021 Cox Media Group