Nashville International Airport leadership expects a record-breaking surge in passengers coming through the airport this fall, President and CEO Doug Kreulen said on Tuesday, as BNA's rapid expansion continues.
"In the last 11 years, we have broken our record, and we're going to break our record again this October," Kreulen said.
The busiest time of year at BNA is not Christmas or New Years, but fall break. Based on Transportation Security Administration projections, Nashville's airport will see up to 94,000 passengers some days during that period. On an average day, BNA's numbers are about 33% lower, with 60,000 passengers per day.
This year, Middle Tennessee schools' fall breaks land from Oct. 3 to 21, and during the week of Oct. 7, the Metro Nashville Airport Authority said nine counties and three Nashville universities are all on fall break.
BNA is on schedule to see about 24 million passengers travel through its gates this year. That number is up from the 18.4 million passengers in 2022, and with the $1.4 billion phase of the airport's massive expansion underway, total passengers will likely continue to rise.
Kreulen previously told The Tennessean that projections show BNA hitting 34 million annual passengers by 2034.
“Most passengers are under the impression that Thanksgiving and Christmas are our two peak times here at the airport. Fall break is actually our peak period for Nashville International Airport,” BNA Chief Operating Officer Adam Floyd said.
'Heightened security' to reduce risks
Metro Nashville Airport Authority Chief Operating Officer Adam Floyd said planning for fall break is a year-round endeavor.
"During this peak period, we have increased on-site staff to our maximum capacity to accommodate the influx of passengers that we're expecting next month," Floyd said.
Typically, there are about 100 state-certified police officers working with the BNA Department of Public Safety to patrol the grounds, but extra officers will be on site through fall break.
Police Chief Brian Findlen said there will be "heightened security protocols" like increased surveillance and screening implemented through October.
Nashville airport leading in firearm finds
TSA Assistant Federal Security Director Ken Meyer said Nashville ranks among the top five airports in the United States for firearm finds at TSA security checkpoints, averaging three to four per week.
"Sometimes multiple firearm fines at the checkpoint will slow things down," he said. "That's why we stress the importance of, when packing bags at home, start with an empty bag."
He said most people who are found to be carrying firearms in the airport say they accidentally brought them or didn't know that the weapons were in the bags.
Meyer added that 90% of firearms that come through the Nashville TSA checkpoint are loaded.
However, most of the people who are bringing these firearms to the airport are not being arrested. Meyer said there are civil penalties the federal government can enact, but criminal charges are not brought against the people accidentally packing guns in their carry-ons.
Meyer's best guess for why Tennessee is so high up on the list nationwide is because of the state's gun laws.
Tennessee became a permitless carry state in 2021, allowing both open and concealed carrying of handguns without any permit.
Traffic changes entering Nashville International Airport
While even more changes to transportation infrastructure around BNA are on the way in the future, a few have already been implemented in the last year. Here's what travelers should expect:
If arriving on I-40 eastbound, there is an additional lane from the interstate up to the terminal. For those coming in on I-40 westbound, the Donelson Pike exit moved up a half a mile.
Roadwork remains ongoing around the airport. Currently, the over $3 million project to double capacity on Terminal Drive, the main loop around BNA, is underway. It will take the road from one mile with two lanes to two miles with six lanes.
Is there enough parking at BNA?
Nashville International Airport Chief Operating Officer Adam Bouchard said the leadership team highly encourages travelers to consider alternate modes of transportation, like ride-share services and public transportation to get to the airport during the peak period.
"Although we have more than 17,000 parking spaces across our campus, which is about 1,000 more than we had last year, because of so many school districts being on fall break at the same time, there's no doubt our parking is going to be stretched," Bouchard said.
There are 17,045 parking spaces on BNA grounds, and the peak day's parking demand in October is an estimated 16,204, according to Metro Nashville Airport Authority.
Hadley Hitson covers trending business, dining and health care for The Tennessean. She can be reached athhitson@gannett.com. To support her work,subscribe to The Tennessean.