MSP expects 4% holiday travel increase
The Metropolitan Airports Commission says Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport will see about a 4% year-over-year rise in holiday traffic, with roughly 763,000 passengers expected to clear security and about 1.8 million total travelers from Dec. 19, 2025 to Jan. 5, 2026. The busiest pre‑Christmas day is forecast to be Friday, Dec. 19 (nearly 43,000 screenings; 445 departures), with even higher post‑holiday screening volumes topping 50,000 on Dec. 26 and Dec. 28; travelers should expect busy roadways, ramps and terminals.
📌 Key Facts
- Timeframe: Dec. 19, 2025–Jan. 5, 2026 (18 days)
- Screenings: ~763,000; total travelers (inbound/connecting included): ~1.8 million
- Peak days: Dec. 19 (~43,000 screened; 445 departures), Dec. 26 and Dec. 28 (50,000+ screened each day)
📊 Relevant Data
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport passenger traffic totaled 37.2 million in 2024, marking a 6.9% increase over 2023.
News Releases — MSP Airport
In 2019, MSP Airport handled 39.5 million passengers, before dropping to 14.9 million in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Air Travel Trends — Greater MSP
AAA projects 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the year-end holiday period in 2025, a 2.2% increase from the previous year.
Year-End Holiday Travel Expected to Set New Record — AAA Newsroom
The renovation of MSP's Terminal 1 is part of a decade of improvements to elevate customer service and accommodate future growth.
MSP Terminal 1: A leap into the modern era — Metropolitan Airports Commission
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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