While Tuesday’s numbers are not expected to break records, the continued influx of travelers could cause longer-than-normal wait times for the fifth consecutive morning. The busiest time for security checkpoints is typically between 3 a.m., when TSA opens, and 7 a.m.
Because of the rush, airport officials are encouraging passengers to show up early — but not too early. They recommend arriving 2 ½ hours early for domestic flights and 3 hours early for international routes.
“We’ve got a lot of flights leaving between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., so if your flight isn’t until after that, please don’t show up 4+ hours early to the checkpoints,” the airport wrote in a social media update. “We really want to make sure those travelers can get through security and make it to their gate on time.”
The airport is increasing staffing to help passengers navigate the busy terminal and find the fastest line. Flyers can check estimated current wait times by downloading the MyTSA app.
From Friday to Sunday, 112,154 passengers checked into Austin-Bergstrom. The airport will likely stay busy through March and into April, particularly on Sundays and Mondays. Departures could eclipse 30,000 on March 22-23, March 29-30, and April 5-6, airport officials predicted.
The travel surge comes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — which includes the TSA — remains shuttered during a partial government shutdown. TSA officers are working without pay as congressional Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked in a standoff over reforms to federal immigration enforcement agencies, which are also part of DHS.
The shutdown continued Monday, and though officers are calling in sick at a higher rate than normal nationally, it didn’t appear to play a role in Austin’s backups. All but one screening lane at Austin-Bergstrom was open Monday, according to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.
“Our airport is not experiencing any significant impact from the few TSA officers who aren’t arriving for their shifts,” Doggett said in a statement Monday.”