FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2000
Media Contact: Mike Blanton, Public Affairs Manager
Phone: (919) 840-2100, ext. 207 Pager: (919) 981-2135
Mary Persson, (919) 840-2100, ext. 206

RDU Expects a Half Million Travelers

RDU Airport, NC --- Nearly a half million passengers are expected to fly in and out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport during the next two weeks. This represents an 18 percent increase over Christmas and New Year's holiday traffic last year.

Airport officials identified this Friday, December 22, as the single busiest day with nearly 40,000 passengers expected at RDU. Other extremely heavy days include December 21, 26 and 27.

"The single best piece of advice we can offer is for holiday travelers to give themselves extra time," said RDU spokesman Mike Blanton. "On our heaviest days, I would recommend getting to the airport a good two hours before your scheduled departure."

More parking is available this year due to an increase of more than 4,500 new spaces. These new spaces come from a new 2,700-space parking deck that opened last summer across from Terminal A and an 1,800-space expansion that opened last month at Park and Ride Lot 3 near Interstate 40.

In addition to arriving early, travelers are also reminded to bring government issued photo identification, to keep up with their luggage and to avoid leaving unattended vehicles parked at the terminal curbsides. For passenger drop-offs and pick-ups, airport officials are asking that customers use the hourly parking lots to help ease congestion in the terminal curb area.

Passengers picking up or dropping off are strongly encouraged to use hourly spaces between the terminals. Towing regulations for vehicles left unattended on the Terminal curbside will be strictly enforced. For more information visit the airport's web site at www.rdu.com.