FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – As travelers packed South Florida airports for what AAA is calling the busiest holiday season yet, some of their flights were delayed.
On Christmas Eve, runways and taxiways were packed with planes carrying anxious flyers to and from their destinations.
Kate Langford, who headed out with her family to Sacramento, California on an evening flight out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, was hoping everything went smoothly.
“I just hope my dad doesn’t get too stressed,” Langford said. “If it doesn’t (go right), that would be interesting.”
There were very few cancellations reported nationwide, but there were plenty of delays. At one point, 50 flights were delayed out of Miami International Airport and 100 were delayed at FLL.
Airport roads were also packed with loved ones picking up or dropping off their relatives.
“Traffic was pretty heavy this morning, around 10, but it seems to be moving swiftly now,” FLL airport worker Quinton Thompkins said.
The Coles, who landed from Washington, D.C., said things went smoothly for them as they arrived in South Florida to spend time with their son.
“It is Christmas Eve, hopefully everybody is where they need to be,” Joyce Cole said.
Flyers generally had an upbeat mood despite the delays.