Traveling to Houston this weekend? Here’s what you need to know – Houston Public Media

Houston officials are encouraging travelers to plan ahead for a busy holiday weekend as record numbers of travelers are expected to hit the road.

The Houston airport system urges travelers to arrive at George Bush Intercontinental Airport at least three hours before their flight during Memorial Day weekend. Of the 1.3 million travelers expected at the airport next week, more than a million will board domestic flights and 270,000 on international flights.

AAA predicts that nearly 44 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home during the busy holiday weekend. It’s a record that some are comparing to pre-pandemic numbers and the busiest weekend for air travel since 2005, signaling a busy summer for airports.

Airlines added more than 60 new flights to and from Bush Airport this week as part of the 2024 summer flight schedule. Many of these flights are scheduled to depart during peak times, between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. and between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., depending on the airport system. United Airlines alone is forecasting its busiest weekend ever with approximately three million passengers across the country, an increase of 10 percent since last year, according to the airline.

Friday and Monday are expected to be the busiest days for traffic around Houston airports this weekend. AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers over the weekend, an increase of 4.8% since last year and up 9% from 2019.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority will adjust its Memorial Day weekend transit schedule ahead of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Local buses, MetroRail, MetroRapid and METRO curb2curb will operate on a Sunday schedule this weekend. Park and Ride buses and HOV/hot lanes will be out of service over the weekend. All METROLift subscription trips will be canceled on Monday. Reservations and customer service are closed.

METRO schedules may also be affected by current weather conditions, depending on the transit company.

Harris County is continuing its “No Refusals Weekend” initiative to combat drunk driving over the holiday weekend. A judge will be tasked with issuing warrants to police so they can take blood from suspected drunk drivers.

RELATED: ‘No Refusal Weekend’ Initiative to Continue This Memorial Day Weekend to Combat Drunk Driving in Harris County

Houston experienced devastating winds during a derecho event last week that left thousands without power and debris strewn across the streets.

“Intersections are always very concerning,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a news conference this week.

“But if you add to that drunkenness, speeding or distracted on the phone, using drugs or other things, it’s a dangerous mix,” he said.