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March could be busiest month ever for MKE airport

With spring break approaching and COVID-19 cases now dropping, airport officials expect this month to be their busiest.

March could be busiest month ever for MKE airport

With spring break approaching and COVID-19 cases now dropping, airport officials expect this month to be their busiest.

PATRICK: 12 NEWS’ HANNAH HILYARD SHOWS US HOW THE AIRPORT COULD BREAK RECORDS THIS MONTH. >> IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT WITSPH RING BREAK APPROACHING AND COVID CASES NOW DROPPING, AIRPORT OFFICIALS EXPECT MARCH TO BE THEIR BUSIEST MONTH EVER. IT’S ALREADY STARTED.IF 10,000 P -- WITH 10,000 PEOPLE COMING THUGROH MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THREE DAYS IN A ROW. WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU REMEMBER THAT HAPPENING? >> 2019. PTOUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WE HAD PASSENGERS TOTAL FOR THE DAY. >> IN 2019, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, MILWAUKEE’S AIRPORT SAW NEARLY 6644 PASSENGERS. YOU COULD EXCEED THAT THIS MONTH? THOSE NUMBERS YOU’RE LOOKING AT ARE ARRIVING AND DEPARTING PASSENGE.RS >> CORRECT. WE COULD EASILY EXCEED THAT IF PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE SERVESIC THAT WE HAVE. AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY MARCH 12 AND MARCH 19, WILL LIKELY BE THE BUSIEST. WITH 39 FLIGHTTOS WARM WEHEATR DESTINATIONS ON THOSE DAYS. >> THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARGOINE G TO BE LEISURE TRAVEL WHO NEED TO BE REMINDED OF SOME OF THIS TSA ETIQUETTE. >> THAT INCLUDES ARVIRING TWO HOURS BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT. AND MAKING SURE YOU DON’T CARRY-ON ANY PROHIBITED ITEMS >> THE TSA MASK MANDATONE LIGHTS IS STILL IN EFFECT AND IN AIRPORTS UNTIL MAR 18.CH IT’S UNCLEAR IF THE AGENCY PLANS ON EXTENDING THAT MANDATE, OR LETTING IT EXPIRE THEN. REPORTING FROM MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WISN 12 NEWS. PATRICK: MARCH MADNESS CLDOU ALSO INCREASE AIRPORT TRAFFIC. THAT’S HAPPENING MARCH 18 AND 20TH AT FISERV FORUM. - ∼ NEXT STORY
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March could be busiest month ever for MKE airport

With spring break approaching and COVID-19 cases now dropping, airport officials expect this month to be their busiest.

Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in travel is picking back up again.March 2022 could break Milwaukee airport records.With spring break approaching and COVID-19 cases now dropping, airport officials expect this month to be their busiest ever. And it's already started.About 10,000 travelers have come through Mitchell International Airport in the last three days."To put it in perspective, we had days in '20/'21 (with) 500 passengers total for the day," said Mark Lendvay with TSA Wisconsin.In 2019, before the pandemic, Milwaukee's airport saw nearly 664,000 passengers.Airport officials said they could exceed that this month."We could easily exceed that if people take advantage of all the services that we have," officials said.March 12 and 19 will likely be the busiest travel days of the month with 39 flights to warm-weather destinations on those days."There are going to be a lot of people who are going to be leisure travel who need to be reminded of some of this TSA etiquette," said Jessica Mayle with TSA Great Lakes region.That includes arriving two hours before a domestic flight and two and a half hours before an international flight.Travelers should also make sure they don't carry on any prohibited items.The TSA mask mandate on flights and in airports is in effect until March 18.It's unclear if the agency plans on extending the mandate or letting it expire.The NCAA basketball tournament in Milwaukee could also increase airport traffic. The games are March 18 and 20 at Fiserv Forum.

Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in travel is picking back up again.

March 2022 could break Milwaukee airport records.

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With spring break approaching and COVID-19 cases now dropping, airport officials expect this month to be their busiest ever.

And it's already started.

About 10,000 travelers have come through Mitchell International Airport in the last three days.

"To put it in perspective, we had days in '20/'21 (with) 500 passengers total for the day," said Mark Lendvay with TSA Wisconsin.

In 2019, before the pandemic, Milwaukee's airport saw nearly 664,000 passengers.

Airport officials said they could exceed that this month.

"We could easily exceed that if people take advantage of all the services that we have," officials said.

March 12 and 19 will likely be the busiest travel days of the month with 39 flights to warm-weather destinations on those days.

"There are going to be a lot of people who are going to be leisure travel who need to be reminded of some of this TSA etiquette," said Jessica Mayle with TSA Great Lakes region.

That includes arriving two hours before a domestic flight and two and a half hours before an international flight.

Travelers should also make sure they don't carry on any prohibited items.

The TSA mask mandate on flights and in airports is in effect until March 18.

It's unclear if the agency plans on extending the mandate or letting it expire.

The NCAA basketball tournament in Milwaukee could also increase airport traffic.

The games are March 18 and 20 at Fiserv Forum.