Airport Will Be Hopping With Holiday Travelers

Beginning today, Lindbergh Field and county roads are expected to be crowded with Easter holiday travelers, and authorities are cautioning the public to plan ahead to avoid getting caught in traffic.

Airport officials are expecting an increase in travelers this weekend, said Dan Wilkens, spokesman for the San Diego Unified Port District, which operates Lindbergh Field.

“Easter typically is busier than normal,” he said. As many as 40,000 travelers are expected to pass through Lindbergh Field today and Sunday, up from the 27,000 average on normal days. That number does not include friends and relatives who often come to say goodby and add to the congestion, said Wilkens, who suggested that loved ones say their goodbys before getting to the airport.

Although the Persian Gulf War is over, security measures set by the Federal Aviation Administration are still in place, he said. As a result, there is still no curbside baggage check-in. All luggage must be checked in at the ticket counter.

Skycaps will be available outside terminals to help those with a lot of luggage, Wilkens said.

Although passenger and baggage loading and unloading is permitted outside the terminal, parking in the area is prohibited and any car left unattended will be ticketed, towed and impounded, he said.

Wilkens also suggested that travelers leave their cars at home and instead have someone drive them or use cabs or shuttle services to get to Lindbergh Field.