BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) — Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport leaders are preparing for increased Thanksgiving travel, with parking expected to be challenging during the holiday period.
“We’ve done a great job at the airport of adding more parking, but our overflow lots will be open if they’re needed,” said Mark Sheldon, the chairman of the airport authority. “There’s a lot of wayfinding out there, so as you pull into the airport, you can see what lot has availability, if overflow parking is in effect, so look ahead, plan ahead, and you’ll have great, safe travels.”
The airport has made transportation from parking areas to terminals easier with an expanded shuttle fleet.
“There’s numerous shuttles, I think we’re up to 16 different style shuttles to get from one lot to the next,” said Sheldon. ” We actually have people who now like the overflow lot if it’s open because we have shuttles that pick you up at the overflow lot to bring you right to the main gate.”
Travelers share with News Channel 7 that they are figuring out the parking situation.
Dhvanit Vijapura, a passenger traveling through ECP, said short-term and handicap parking can sometimes be challenging.
“But overall, it’s not too far from the airport, I have no complaints, service is fantastic, and in and out has been totally hassle-free for me,” Vijapura said.
Airport officials say construction-related lane closures near the airport will not affect Thanksgiving travel. The left lane is currently closed but will reopen before the busy travel period begins.
“This week we will finish up with the lane closures that we have, so nothing will be affected next week during the holidays,” Sheldon said. “That was very important to all of us that we are not disrupting any traffic next week.”
Airport officials advise travelers to plan ahead, prepare for parking challenges, and pack patience for the holiday travel period.
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