Denver International Airport workers are bracing for a surge of travelers over the Labor Day period starting Thursday as Americans stretch out record-breaking summer travel.

DIA expects a record 444,500 passengers to pass through airport checkpoints between Thursday (Aug. 29) and Tuesday (Sept. 3), with the heaviest traffic on Friday and Monday.

The forecast represents a 5.1% increase over the Labor Day period in 2023.

Airport officials this week advised travelers to expect longer security wait times and relatively full parking. They recommended that travelers arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flights.

To try to speed up airport flows, DIA has set up a security line reservation system operating between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. that allows travelers to make free reservations up to 14 days before their flights — reservations with 15-minute windows that allow them to skip the security screening line. These are available only for the West security checkpoint, which operates from 4 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“It gives peace of mind to travelers,” airport spokesman Michael Konopasek said.

DIA officials plan to post updated information on parking availability, security line wait times, and different security checkpoints.

Nationally, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to screen more than 17 million people between Aug. 29 and Sept. 4. Federal agency officials report record summer travel, up by 8.5% overall from last year’s levels.

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Originally Published: August 27, 2024 at 10:55 a.m.