DENVER (KDVR) — The time around fall break is typically a busy travel season for Denver International Airport, and officials are preparing for an influx in passengers in the upcoming weeks.
While the fall rush is typical for this time of year, airport officials said, the timing also aligns with a federal government shutdown that has already caused delays at DIA and across the country.
Employees at the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration are furloughed along with most other federal workers, and a shortage of air traffic controllers has been to blame for some airports’ delay issues, according to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
DIA flight delays tied to low air traffic staffing levels across the U.S.: FAA
Here’s what DIA officials want travelers to know about the upcoming travel rush, and what officials say about possible effects on air travel during the shutdown.
DIA expects year-over-year increase of travelers
From Thursday, October 9 through Monday, October 20, airport officials said nearly 1 million passengers, 938,000, are expected to travel through DIA’s security checkpoints, a 5.5% increase compared to the same time in 2024.
The period lines up with fall break for school districts along Colorado’s Front Range, and DIA officials said the busiest days are expected to be Friday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, October 12.
Will shutdown affect busy fall travel at DIA?
The government shutdown has already caused delays at DIA and across the country, as the FAA on Monday issued a ground delay due to “staffing.”
Duffy previously said that there has been a small uptick in sick calls from controllers, and the FAA would have to reduce the number of flights taking off and landing at airports if the situation gets worse
FOX31 asked DIA officials if they expect the shutdown to affect the upcoming fall travel surge. Here is what they said:
TSA and FAA Air Traffic Control staff are required to continue working unpaid during a federal shutdown. That being said, we cannot guarantee that TSA and FAA staffing would not be affected. We recommend getting to the airport at least two hours prior to boarding time and checking with your airline directly for any updates on your flight. Real-time TSA security wait times can be found at Flydenver.com/security and delays/cancellations can be found at FlightAware.com.”
What to know about traveling through DIA
DIA officials advised travelers of some changes at DIA during this travel time, including new security and airline counter configurations.
All security checkpoints are on the north end of Jeppesen Terminal Level 6, the opposite side of the Westin Hotel and transit center where the now-nonoperational South Security checkpoint was located.
The East and West security checkpoints are open from 3 a.m. – 1 a.m. daily.
Additionally, most airline counters are in a temporary configuration in the center of Level 5 through mid-2027. the airport’s largest airline carriers, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines are still located on Level 6.
The bridge from Jeppesen to Concourse A is also now open again to arriving and departing passengers who have been through security.
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