The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) said its busiest holiday week is just getting started. They expect between 14,000 and 15,000 travelers on peak days between now and January 2nd. Many of those are going to and from their holiday gatherings, but others are here to hit the slopes.
The airport expects this week to be busy due to holiday travel, but travelers say their trips haven't been affected.
Kendrick Rolinson from Los Angeles said he's "here to get a little skiing in & take advantage of the snow [Tahoe] just got. It's awesome here."
"My family's with me. We came over to ski and then gamble," said Keith McGuire from Santa Fe, Texas.
Travelers on Sunday say the airport wasn't as busy as they expected. One traveler said his family dealt with a minor delay on their flight from Atlanta.
"We only had a 10-minute delay for a flight, so it wasn't too bad," said Derek from Carlin, Nevada.
Other fliers said they've kept it smooth sailing.
"It really wasn't that busy at all. And most people were in a pleasant mood, not crabby at all, surprisingly," said Michele Laughlin from Gardnerville.
"The airport's easy-peasy. No lines, no wait," Rolinson said.
Admittedly, Rolinson said he's seen much worse.
"LAX is a nightmare," he said. "[RNO] is very nice."
Laughlin said every two years, she flies to orange county with her husband to spend Christmas with their extended family. Despite flying through two major airports, this year's trip was a breeze.
"We got that first flight out of Orange County, flew over to Salt Lake City, and had a very easy transition. No problems with the flights," Laughlin said. "You know how it is in Reno. Usually [the landing is] bumpy, but it was great today."
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority expects December 29th and January 2nd to be the peak travel days for the rest of the holiday season.
