WMBCTV: Newark Airport Memorial Day Travel Surge

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer travel - and thousands of passengers are already flowing through the terminals, ready to kick off their getaways despite the expected crowds and delays. Port Authority officials say they expect heavy volume through the weekend, with today and Monday likely to be the busiest of the holiday rush.

The FAA has temporarily capped the number of flights in and out of Newark Airport through mid-June due to staffing shortages and ongoing tech issues. They say there will only be 28 arrival and 28 departure flights allowed per hour until nearby runway construction is complete. Whether this translates to brief delays or much longer wait times remains to be seen. Christian Lynch says he’s passing through New Jersey on his trip from Syracuse to Atlanta and he says he’s gearing up for any potential, unprecedented impacts to his travel this weekend.

“Sometimes it gets pretty stressful, not knowing what could unfold,” Lynch said.

To help manage the surge of travelers, officials are urging passengers to arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three early for international ones. Officials also remind travelers that TSA is now enforcing REAL ID requirements at checkpoints.

“I do have my Real ID,” Lynch said. “I think it’s a bit better, it gives you more security.”

Officials are also encouraging passengers to use public transit or pre-book parking online as they say parking is expected to be tight. Despite the complications, many say they’re staying focused on the destination, not the delays.

“End of the day, as long as you get there safely, that’s all that matters,” Lynch said. “Just hope everyone has a great flight.”