Bradley International Airport is gearing up for one of its busiest travel periods of the year, with about 95,000 passengers expected to depart over the 10-day Thanksgiving holiday stretch that begins today.
The holiday travel rush at Connecticut’s largest airport will run through Nov. 30, with the heaviest traffic anticipated on the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and the Saturday and Sunday following the holiday, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority, which operates the facility.
“Bradley International Airport is ready to welcome the thousands of passengers who will be traveling over the course of the Thanksgiving holiday and through the end of the year,” said Michael W. Shea, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. “Many of those passengers will get to experience our recently completed terminal enhancements for the first time.”
Travelers will notice extensive upgrades at Bradley. Both of the airport’s new exit corridors are now operational, providing faster access to baggage claim, car rentals and ground transportation.
Two new meet-and-greet areas, with seating and flight monitors, have also opened.
The TSA security checkpoint has been expanded to accommodate more queuing space, made possible by reconfiguring the former center lane exit. The ticketing lobby has 25,000 square feet of new carpeting, and a new parking guidance system shows which spaces are available in the parking garage.
Airport officials recommend passengers arrive with ample time during peak hours, which typically run from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., when up to 25 flights can depart within a few hours. The 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. window also sees heavy traffic.
Bradley International Airport served more than 6.7 million passengers in 2024 and currently offers nonstop flights to more than 40 destinations on 10 airlines.
