Redmond Airport defies Thanksgiving travel chaos amid record crowds
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — More than 80 million Americans are traveling for Thanksgiving this year, including over one million Oregonians. Despite record holiday traffic, travelers at Redmond Municipal Airport are experiencing smooth, delay-free journeys, making it a bright spot in what is expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel season ever.
Record-Breaking Travel Numbers
AAA projects 81.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this holiday, marking the highest number on record. Of those, about 1.17 million are from Oregon. Bend remains the top regional destination for AAA members, making Redmond Airport a key hub for holiday visitors to Central Oregon.
Smooth Sailing at Redmond Airport
The terminal at Redmond Airport saw waves of travelers coming and going throughout the day and night, filling and emptying with little wait and no significant delays.
Visitors praised the experience as quick and hassle-free. Jarrod, visiting family from Austin, Texas, said, “I ironically enough. Flawless. And I was expecting it to be just packed at the Austin airport, which is notoriously terrible for security and whatnot. But we got in, right out. No delays.”
Alternative Travel Choices
Not everyone took to the skies. Marika traveled by train from Grass Valley, enjoying the direct route and the chance to meet new people. “It’s a direct train from Sacramento up to Redmond, and then a bus from here, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. This reflects a growing trend among travelers choosing buses, trains, and cruises this holiday season, alongside the surge in road and air travel.
Central Oregon’s Holiday Draw
Bend’s popularity as a holiday destination remains high, but the snow has yet to cooperate, delaying the opening of Mt. Bachelor. Still, visitors like Jarrod are making the most of their time with family, planning to ice skate and join local events like the Turkey Trot.
When we asked his son what he was looking forward to, he said, “Trade Pokemon cards!”
