"Sky Harbor Airport Very Busy Today"

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Sky Harbor Airport Very Busy Today
KTAR AM 620, Phoenix (AZ)


Sky Harbor Airport bracing for possibly its busiest day of 2007 today. 

About 140,000 travelers are expected to pass through through the airport on
the day after Christmas, compared with 100,000 on a normal day. 

Sky Harbor brought in extra manpower to deal with the crush. 

``It is really picking up by the minute. Lines are getting a little bit
longer," said the airport's Deborah Ostreicher during the early morning
hours, when bad weather in Denver was affecting some flights into and out of
Sky Harbor. 

Ostreicher recommended travelers arrive at the airport at least two hours
before takeoff. 

``That alleviates so much stress that can happen if you get here late," she
said. 

Ostreicher advised people picking up someone at Sky Harbor to plan ahead. 

``Arrive about 30 minutes after your passenger is set to get off the plane
and use the cellphone waiting areas on both sides of the airport," she said.
``Don't pull up to the curb until your passenger is there. That helps keep
it open for everyone." 

The parking situation was much improved from Monday when the airport was
forced to open its emergency overflow lots. 

``Terminal parking is what fills up during the business week, it's not an
issue during the holidays," said Ostreicher. ``There's plenty of parking in
the economy lots now, so if you're headed out for the New Year's holiday,
you can easily find economy parking." 

Ostreicher said there's no end in sight for airport crowds. 

``New Years is around the corner and the bowl games. And it doesn't let up
after that because we go straight into the Super Bowl and the FBR (Phoenix
Open Golf Tournament) followed by spring break." 

The Insight Bowl between Oklahoma State and Indiana will be played at Sun
Devil Stadium on Monday night, and the Fiesta Bowl between Oklahoma and West
Virginia in Glendale on Jan. 2. The Super Bowl is at University of Phoenix
Stadium in Glendale Feb. 6. 

One traveler this morning was headed to New Jersey to visit her son. 

``We moved here about five years ago to get away from the cold. And now
we're on our way back there," said Jan Carlmon. 

She said it took a little arm twisting to get her out of the Valley. 

``My husband's a pretty convincing type of guy plus the Christmas gift he
gave me wasn't bad either, so I said, `Ah, let him go,'" Carlmon said.


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