Tampa International Airport projects multiple days with more than 100,000 passengers, which would break the Airport’s single-day passenger record.
Tampa International Airport is once again gearing up for what is expected to be the Airport’s all-time busiest spring break. The 2025 spring break travel period runs from March 1 to April 6 at TPA, with an average of 91,000 passengers traveling through the Airport each day. TPA is forecasting at least 4 days in March with more than 100,000 passengers based on a predicted 90 percent weekend load factor of all available airline seats in and out of TPA.
March 15 is projected to be TPA’s busiest day over spring break with as many as 101,502 passengers followed by March 29, March 22 and March 16.
For those planning to brave the crowds this spring break, here are some tips for navigating the Airport and making your travel experience an enjoyable one.
ARRIVE EARLY: Tampa International Airport is known for providing a quick and easy route from curb or car to gate, but during this spring break, arriving early is more important than ever. With the massive volume of extra people and several ongoing construction projects, TPA passengers should plan to arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before international travel.
This is especially important for passengers traveling out of Airside A or Airside E, where construction crews are finishing up their work to expand the security checkpoints and install new equipment. Fortunately, the checkpoint expansion project is nearly complete, meaning more room for passengers to line up at the TSA security checkpoint and a smoother experience in the coming weeks. A separate project to install brand new shuttles at Airside A and Airside C means only a single shuttle lane is in use as crews continue their work on upgrades.
CHOOSE EXPRESS: Traveling with carry-on luggage only? The Blue Express Curbsides are an easier alternative to the regular Departures and Arrivals curbs and allow those who don’t need to stop at the Ticketing or Baggage Claim levels to get in and out of the Main Terminal more easily and quickly. Drivers can follow the signage to Express for a much less crowded drop-off and pick-up experience, especially during peak hours when traffic may start to back up. The all new Red Express Curbsides are expected to open later this year.
REMOTE BAG CHECK: Spring break is one of the busiest times of the year for our Rental Car Center, when people are flocking to Florida on vacation. If you are returning a rental car at TPA, consider checking your bags at our Remote Bag Check location. Located on Level 4 of the Rental Car Center, the Remote Bag Check allows passengers to drop off their bags and get their boarding passes before they board the SkyConnect train and make their way to their gates, alleviating the stress of hauling luggage through the Airport and allowing passengers to skip the ticket counters at the Main Terminal. The service is available for passengers arriving at least 90 minutes before their flight and traveling on American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit or United.
SKIP THE LINES: Need a cup of coffee or something to eat before your flight? Now you can order ahead and have your latte or burger waiting when you arrive. Customers can use the Uber Eats App at TPAtoGo.com, or the Starbucks mobile app to order and pay. The app will provide an estimated wait time, allowing you to avoid standing in line and swing by the counter when your order is ready to pick up.
PLAN AHEAD FOR PARKING: TPA offers online booking for parking, which has discounted pricing on its Short Term, Long Term and Economy garages, some of which may reach capacity during peak days. Online bookings also help TPA anticipate demand and manage its garage space availability, making parking easier for everyone.
