Louisville's airport expecting near-record travel week for Spring Break

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Spring break travel is expected to boom at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, with airport officials expecting one of the busiest stretches of the year.

From Thursday through Sunday, the airport is projecting more than 35,000 outbound seats, signaling a significant uptick in travel demand compared to last year.

"Very busy, about 5% up over where we were last year — near record numbers," said Natalie Chaudoin, a spokesperson for the airport.

While the numbers are up from 2025, they are still expected to fall just short of the airport's record spring travel in 2024.

Airport officials said airline schedules are a strong indicator of demand, with flights already filling up at a high rate. As travelers head out, warm-weather destinations are driving demand.

"Florida is always a top market," Chaudoin said. "We're seeing more seats this year to Orlando, Fort Myers, St. Pete, Clearwater area, (and) Tampa."

The busiest travel days are expected to be Thursday, April 2, and Sunday, April 5.

"And then we expect the following weekend to be pretty busy ... with people returning back," Chaudoin said.

Despite ongoing concerns nationwide tied to the federal government shutdown, airport officials said operations with Transportation Safety Administration workers in Louisville have remained stable.

"Check-in was two minutes," said Allen Lace, who strolled through security at the airport Tuesday.

Lace and others at SDF said smaller airports don't seem to be experiencing the same issues at security checkpoints the way other major cities are.

"Minneapolis was way busier than it normally is," said the DeFrang family, who noted Louisville's airport was operating much smoother.

"All the other airports, we hear, are rough," said Wayne Dossey as he landed in Louisville.

"I flew into Atlanta," added Dossey's wife, Ann. "(Allen) went down before me, and I flew into Atlanta, and the wait — when I got there to go on to Tampa — was about an hour-and-40-minute wait."

Some TSA workers began receiving backpay Monday while others are still waiting.

"We've not seen some of the impacts that you are seeing at airports across the country," Chaudoin said. "Our staffing has been very consistent. TSA has continued to show up, and we've not seen any impact to passenger screening. So those wait times are really good and solid, just like they were free shutdown."

Still, as the spring break rush approaches, travelers are encouraged to plan ahead, especially during peak departure times.

"We do encourage people to arrive two to two and a half hours in advance, just because it is going to be a busier few days, especially if you're heading out on a flight before 830 in the morning," Chaudoin said.

Parking is also expected to be in high demand, with some lots potentially reaching capacity.

Airport officials said travelers can consider alternative options, including shuttle lots, to avoid delays getting to the terminal.