DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — It was a quiet Sunday at Harrisburg International Airport with the busiest travel days now behind.
“Airports have been empty, I kind of forgot it was Labor Day,” said Zahri Jackson from Harrisburg.
The airport projected about 4,600 passengers the Thursday and Friday before Labor Day.
Jackson saw little commotion despite flying out on one of the busiest days
“I did book early, I booked in the beginning at the month because I knew what I had planned, but even then, it was pretty good,” Jackson said.
She visited family in North Carolina and celebrated the weekend with a veteran relative.
Jack Battle was one of an estimated 2,500 people to fly out Saturday, but he returned Sunday.
He booked early just in case there were a lot of passengers.
“The plane was pretty full even for the morning, but we managed to luck out, it was just me and my dad there, and we managed to luck out and not have anyone sitting in the middle of us,” Battle said.
In total, nearly 24,000 passengers are expected to fly in and out over a five-day period.
“I rather just be on a plane where they can accommodate me, I can pay for my seat so I can get the window and look at the heights and all of that,” Jackson said.
“What better way than to fly,” Battle added.
Officials with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission expect about 2.89 million vehicles over the same five-days, surpassing last year by 50,000.
Most of those vehicles were expected to be on the road Thursday and Friday, with less Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
“It’s like bullet time, in and out so I can get back and have a little time to myself this Monday,” Battle said.
Exact travel numbers are expected to be released later.