LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Blue Grass Airport was much busier than a typical Sunday as the out-of-town Breeders' Cup crowd headed home.
Blue Grass Airport spokesperson Tiffany Hart said the airport would see about 2,700 commercial passengers on a typical Sunday. This Sunday, the airport expected about 4,000 people to pass through. The airport was also packed with private airplanes in for the races. Hart said there were about 150 planes parked on the ramp and another 300 planes stopped in to pick up passengers and leave.
Airport retailers brought in additional staff to help move the crowds along. There were no reports of long lines at check-in or security. Airlines also flew in larger airplanes than normal to accommodate more passengers. Delta Air Lines was flying a Boeing 757 and Airbus A320 out Sunday morning.
"A lot of our 50-seat jets have become 180-seat aircraft, so that's been great for Lexington. It really helps us move passengers a lot quicker," said Blue Grass Airport Marketing Director Amy Caudill.
The extra traffic brought out some spectators. Steve Reed and his family came to watch the airplanes come and go.
"There were probably about eight planes lined up when we got here," Reed said as he looked out toward a taxiway filled with airplanes waiting to take off.
Passengers said they were impressed by how smooth the event had gone.
"I was really impressed by everything. From the moment I stepped off the plane, the first thing was a bluegrass band, then I got a bourbon ball. Everyone's been so nice and everybody's asking, 'Can I help you?' and it's extremely smooth," said Florida Representative Heather Fitzenhagen, who flew in for the races.
Blue Grass Airport representatives suggest passengers who are flying out Sunday or Monday should arrive no later than two hours before their departure time.
- Source: http://www.wkyt.com
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