PASCO, Wash.-- The holiday travel rush is underway. Over the next few days, you and a fellow million of your friends and neighbors will be taking off to see grandma and all the relatives.
The Tri-Cities Airport's has plans to handle the increased holiday traffic.
The airport expects to see a 3% increase in air travel compared to last year. Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for the airport, even more than Christmas time.
A new long term parking lot was built to meet the holiday overload, providing 110 more parking spots. The Tri-Cities Airport Director Ron Foraker, said the new parking lot was a must because last year at Thanksgiving they were just 23 stalls shy of maxing out.
The new parking lot has credit card machines so drivers won't have to wait in line at the toll booth.
Airport officials are hopeful the new addition will lessen back ups and make holiday travel a little easier for customers.
"Additional space will be open to use, park and use the facility. So 110 spaces doesn't sound like a lot but I think it's going to help us over the next couple years," Foraker said.
With the new parking lot the airport has 1,300 long term stalls for the stream of travelers expected in the coming days.
This parking lot is located next to the rental cars lot and is expected to open Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
