CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is expecting more than 200,000 people to pass through this Labor Day weekend from Sept. 3 to Sept. 6.
According to a news release, the biggest crowds going through checkpoints at Charlotte Douglas are expected Sept. 3, with around 27,800 people, and Sept. 6, with more than 24,000 travelers. These numbers are close to pre-pandemic Labor Day 2019 stats when Charlotte saw between 28,000 and 31,000 daily travelers.
Airport officials are encouraging passengers to be in line at security checkpoints three hours before their departure time. Passengers may experience longer than normal lines at security checkpoints and concessions due to a nationwide labor shortage, according to a news release.
The busiest times at security checkpoints are expected to be from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Labor Day weekend holiday comes as COVID-19 metrics across North Carolina and the country are on the rise as the highly contagious delta variant spreads.
“Given where we are with disease transmission right now, we would say that people need to take their own, these risks into their own consideration as they think about traveling,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.
Walensky said people who are fully vaccinated and wear a mask can travel, but that’s not the CDC’s recommendation for everyone.
“First and foremost, if you are unvaccinated, we would recommend not traveling," Walensky said.
The CDC is urging vaccinated travelers to encourage unvaccinated loved ones to get their shot this holiday weekend.
“Talk with family and friends who are still unvaccinated about the benefits of the vaccine and consider taking them to get vaccinated over the long holiday weekend,” Walensky added.
Contact Kendall Morris at kmorris2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.