The most wonderful (and busiest) time of year at Calgary International Airport

The busy holiday travel season is underway at Calgary's airport, with almost 1.5 million travellers expected to pass through YYC this month.

The holiday travel rush is well underway at the Calgary International Airport, with many people setting out this week to celebrate the festive season.

John Gibson from Lacombe, Alta., was jumping for joy to be heading to Brandon, Man., with his wife to see his family.

He was supposed to fly out on Sunday but forgot his ID.

“They actually rebooked me for free (and) got my luggage taken care of for free,” Gibson said.

YYC has launched a simpler security experience for domestic travellers.

A new centralized security screening area is now open to guests travelling domestically out of the local airport.

“That is a consolidation of the traditional screening lanes that were at points A, B and C into one centralized location,” said Chris Miles, chief operating officer for Calgary Airports.

“The older technology, we had 10 lanes. We’re replacing that with seven, but it represents a 40 per cent improvement in throughput.”

Phase 2, which is slated to open at the end of 2026, will feature two additional lanes.

“What we’re seeing is people are going through security within 50 per cent of the time that they used to take at other points,” Miles said.

Travel expert Onanta Forbes says the holiday season is the busiest time of the year at airports.

“The airports will be busy no matter where you’re leaving from or arriving to,” Forbes said.

“Keep in mind your connection airports will be busy as well.”

Forbes says travellers should check their flight times right up until departure, arrive early and come with the proper documentation.

“Make sure you don’t wrap your gifts,” Forbes said.