Spring break surge: Chicago airports bracing for over 3.3 million travelers

CHICAGO - Chicago airports are expecting a massive increase in travelers this spring break season.

O'Hare International Airport is set to experience its busiest day on Friday, March 21.

What we know:

Chicago airports are expected to see more than 3.3 million travelers from Thursday, March 20, to Sunday, March 31.

Construction on the Kennedy Expressway may cause travel delays, but it won't stop millions from passing through Chicago's airports this week.

Traveler numbers at Midway and O'Hare are expected to surpass last year's figures, with Friday being the busiest day of the spring break week.

O'Hare alone is projected to handle 279,000 passengers on Friday, while Midway's peak day will be next Saturday, with more than 56,000 passengers expected.

What they're saying:

Some travelers are concerned about potential delays, citing issues at London's Heathrow Airport.

"Trying to go to Scotland. Heathrow is still shut down," one traveler said. "One airline says one thing, the other airline says the other thing. We came here and tried to figure it out. We're so tired." 

"It wasn’t a joy getting here – it took about an hour and a half in this traffic from the south side," said another traveler who was stuck in the Kennedy chaos.  

What's next:

If you're driving to O'Hare, give yourself extra time. It could take one to two hours, especially with the construction on the Kennedy Expressway.

"It cost like $80 for an Uber from Evanston," said one traveler.

Be sure to take the local lanes. The express lanes will not let you exit for O’Hare.