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Airport gears up for start of annual summer travel season with arrival of Indy 500 fans

05/25/10

INDIANAPOLIS—Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is ready to serve Indianapolis 500 race fans this Memorial Day. The holiday marks the start of the summer travel season.

Arrivals will be heavy throughout the day on Friday and Saturday morning before the race. Departures will be heaviest on Monday after the race.

The airport will be fully staffed across all operational areas, including parking, ground transportation, ticket counters, curbside check-in, security screening, terminal services, retail and specialty shops, restaurants, public safety, and law enforcement.

Fans will want to visit the Indy 500 Grill and Brickyard Authentics gift store in Civic Plaza. The restaurant features numerous vintage photos and memorabilia from the speedway while the gift store sells authorized Indianapolis Motor Speedway merchandise. At least one post-security retailer on Concourse B will also be selling Indianapolis 500 items.

AIR TRAVEL TRENDS THROUGH AUGUST 2010

According to the Air Transport Association (ATA), U.S. airlines expect about 202 million passengers to fly between June 1 and August 1, averaging about 2.2 million passengers per day. The daily average is about one (1) percent better than 2009.

Travel Web site TripAdvisor.com reports 41 percent of 3,000 U.S. travelers surveyed said they will spend more on leisure travel in 2010 than in 2009. About 92 percent plan to take two or more leisure trips in 2010, up a whopping 89 percent from 2009.

The summer’s top two destinations are Orlando and Las Vegas, with Orlando ranking highest among trips booked by travel agents. Rounding out the top ten are San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, Honolulu, Seattle, and Washington, DC (source: travel Web site Gadling.com).

  • Here in Indianapolis, the number of travelers at IND was up 6.4 percent last month compared to April of 2009. The increase equates to about 20,000 more passengers.

  • Like other U.S. cities, IND is experiencing a decrease in capacity (i.e., fewer scheduled flights and available seats) in 2010 compared to 2009. In fact, about four percent fewer seats are expected to be available and the number of departures will be down about five percent, meaning flights will be full with few empty seats.

2010 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AIRPORT VOLUMES

According to a survey of 1,000 consumers commissioned by Deloitte between April 27 and May 5, 2010, 19 percent will travel by air while 81 percent will travel by car this holiday. AAA projects about 2.15 million passengers will fly domestically, almost the same number as last year.

Overall, about 3,200 fewer passengers are expected to depart IND on Monday compared to the same day in 2009. Arrival and departure volumes through next Tuesday are estimated to be:

  • Wednesday, May 26 22,992

  • Thursday, May 27 - 25,730

  • Friday, May 28 - 24,700

  • Saturday, May 29 - 23,192

  • Sunday, May 30 - 22,276

  • Monday, May 31 - 31,322

  • Tuesday, June 1 - 28,236

For the same period in 2009, the numbers were:

  • Wednesday, May 20 - 22,632

  • Thursday, May 21 - 25,486

  • Friday, May 22 - 25,718

  • Saturday, May 23 - 18,718

  • Sunday, May 24 - 16,820

  • Monday, May 25 - 34,552

  • Tuesday, May 26 - 31,836

In comparison, volumes in 2008 were:

  • Wednesday, May 21 - 24,698

  • Thursday, May 22 - 27,514

  • Friday, May 23 - 28,298

  • Saturday, May 24 - 21,028

  • Sunday, May 25 - 19,274

  • Monday, May 26 - 34,954

  • Tuesday, May 27 - 29,700

The Deloitte survey found that 50 percent of respondents supported the use of full-body scanners at airport security checkpoints; 24 percent expressed some discomfort with the technology but were willing to tolerate the scanners for enhanced security.

Fixed base operators Million Air and Signature Flight Support expect a 20 percent decrease in the number of private and charter general aviation aircraft to fly into the city for the Indianapolis 500. Overall, about 200 non-commercial aircraft are expected at IND.

PARK AT AIRPORT AND TAKE SHUTTLES TO TRACK

Transportation Management Services (TMS) will operate 30 shuttles from the airport to the speedway on May 30. Cost for the shuttle is $20 per person (round-trip) and includes a a complimentary race-day copy of The Indianapolis Star.

  • Race day parking at the airport for those who want to take the Indy 500 shuttle will be on the top (Level 5) floor of the parking garage. Cost is $10.

  • Fans must present their 2010 Indy 500 ticket stub from the race to the cashier upon exit to receive the $10 rate. Without the race ticket stub, drivers will be charged the regular $18 daily rate for parking in the garage.

  • Once parked, fans should take elevators or stairs to the first floor of the parking garage and proceed to Zone 1 just outside the Ground Transportation Center (GTC).

  • Cost for riding the shuttle is $20 for round-trip ticket. will pick-up and drop-off fans at the Zone 1 curb. They will leave from the airport about every 15 minutes starting at 8 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m.

  • The airport shuttle drop-off and pick-up location for those heading to the IMS will be at the corner of Main & 14th Street in Speedway.

  • The shuttles will run continuously between the airport and the track throughout the day. The service will continue for three hours after the conclusion of the race or until about 8 p.m.

  • Fans can purchase their shuttle tickets online in advance at: www.tms-llc.com/indy500/.