AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Week three of the government shutdown is colliding with one of Austin\u2019s busiest travel weekends, but airport officials say operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport remain smooth.<\/p>\n
Airport officials say they\u2019re staying in close contact with their federal partners and monitoring developments across the country. With heavy travel volumes expected all weekend, they\u2019re urging passengers to give themselves extra time to make their flights \u2014 at least two and a half hours before domestic departures and three hours for international travel.<\/p>\n
With thousands of race fans heading to Austin for the Formula 1 <\/a>weekend, ABIA is bracing for multiple high-travel days.<\/p>\n \u201cI could have made a boat ton of money if I had given up my seats, but I was trying to get back to the house,\u201d said traveler David Matthews.<\/p>\n During busy travel days, airport staff activate what\u2019s called the Department Operations Center on busy travel days. The center brings together divisions across the airport to coordinate in real time and respond quickly to any issues that arise.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also have extra staff here in the terminal that help people with wayfinding if they have any questions, and with line management,\u201d said Samantha Rojas, public information specialist senior with ABIA.<\/p>\n Rojas said the airport is also monitoring potential impacts from the federal shutdown.<\/p>\n