BTR is prepared for a surge in air travel this holiday weekend

The Baton Rouge Metro Airport is expecting a busy holiday weekend.

A BTR spokesperson tells Daily Report that there will be five more inbound and outbound flights this year compared to 2024.

Outbound flights during last year’s Memorial Day weekend were approximately 88% full, and the airport is projecting an increase to around 90%. Roughly 7,800 passengers flew between May 23 and May 28 in 2024.

The increase in flights aligns with air travel projections nationwide. AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers this weekend, a nearly 2% increase over last year when 3.55 million travelers took to the skies.

This Memorial Day weekend isn’t expected to surpass the previous air travel record for the holiday of 3.64 million travelers in 2005, but it is projected to top pre-pandemic levels by 12%. 

BTR encourages passengers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure to allow sufficient time for check-in, baggage drop and security screening.

Additionally, the airport recommends passengers check with their airline for the latest policies and cut-off times for checking bags, as several carriers have recently updated their guidelines. Passengers will need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification to board domestic flights.

BTR reported last month that it was on track for another record year in passenger volume through March.

Through the first three months of 2025, the airport’s passenger traffic is up 6% over 2024, when the airport saw a record 844,025 passengers.