Denver expects 360,000 Memorial Day passengers

Denver International Airport said on Wednesday that more than 360,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport over Memorial Day weekend, putting one of the country’s busiest hubs into the first major crush of the summer travel season. CBS Colorado reported the forecast after airport officials outlined expected traffic for the holiday period. The warning comes a day after the Transportation Security Administration said it was fully staffed for a busy summer across Colorado airports. Recent disruption data has added to the pressure on travelers already planning for long security lines and crowded terminals. ### How busy is Denver expected to be this weekend? Denver International Airport told CBS Colorado that more than 360,000 passengers are expected over Memorial Day weekend. The outlet reported the forecast on May 20, as airports across the country prepared for the holiday rush. TSA said on May 19 that passenger volumes at Denver this summer are expected to be similar to 2025, when officers screened nearly 7 million travelers at the airport. (cbsnews.com) Douglas Cruz, TSA’s federal security director for Colorado, said the agency was “fully prepared” to support the season. ### What does the recent delay picture look like at Denver? (cbsnews.com) Travel And Tour World reported that Denver logged 695 delays and 11 cancellations on May 19, affecting multiple carriers. Reuters could not independently verify those figures from a primary airport or federal operations release, but the report added to signs of strain heading into the holiday weekend. (tsa.gov) TSA said Denver recorded three of its 10 busiest screening days ever during the summer of 2025, including a record July 6 when more than 99,000 travelers were screened. The agency also said Sundays are typically the busiest screening days at Denver during the summer. ### How does Charlotte compare? Charlotte Douglas International Airport said 1.05 million passengers are expected to arrive and depart between May 20 and May 26. (travelandtourworld.com) Axios Charlotte reported the figure on May 19, citing airport officials, and Charlotte Douglas published the same forecast in a press release dated May 18. (tsa.gov) Charlotte Douglas said more than 5,000 flights are expected to depart during the week, while the card’s upstream reporting said American Airlines alone was planning 3,800 departures. Jeff Perry, the airport’s chief operating officer, said summer is “traditionally our busiest time of the year” and urged travelers to expect heavier crowds. (axios.com) ### Which days are expected to be the most crowded? Charlotte Douglas said its peak travel days are expected to be Thursday, May 21, Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25. The airport told passengers to arrive at least two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international flights. TSA said Colorado travelers should expect a busy summer pattern at Denver as well, with Sundays usually the heaviest screening days. (cltairport.com) The agency also urged passengers to make sure they have compliant identification and to review screening rules before arriving at the airport. ### What should travelers watch next? (cltairport.com) Memorial Day week runs through May 26 at Charlotte Douglas, according to the airport’s travel advisory. Denver’s holiday passenger surge begins before the broader summer period that TSA said could match last year’s traffic levels, with Denver officials and TSA expected to post updates as peak days unfold. (cltairport.com) (tsa.gov)