Air travel on Sunday could set new record

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Roads and airports across the country are packed as people make their way home after the long holiday weekend. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport saw some of that traffic, which is expected to be a 12% increase compared to last year’s numbers. 

There was a steady flow of cars and passengers heading in and out of the airport on Sunday. The Transportation Security Administration expects their officers to screen more than three million people at United States airports Sunday which is expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the entire summer. 

There were a couple of flight delays at the Ford Airport, you can check on all flight times here. Zachary Horn was traveling out of the Ford Airport Sunday for school and said the process to get through the airport and onto the plane was very seamless. He said he was stuck in traffic earlier this week on the road, but he takes it as a good sign that the area is growing in popularity. 

“People have found what a gem northern West Michigan is, and so, it’s just amazing to see how many people are coming into the state on these holiday weekends,” Horn said. “I kept an early flight in order to try and get out before the holiday traffic came in. We’re so fortunate to fly around the country, to have an airport like we have here, that’s just one so convenient and easy to get in and out.”

For drivers, it was also a busy day to hit the road. AAA said around 2.3 million Michiganders will travel 50 miles or more between June 29 and July 7. They said the best times to drive are Monday morning and afternoon. The worst times to drive according to the AAA are 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday and between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.