McGhee Tyson Airport surpassed expectations on what was already projected to be a record-breaking travel day Sept. 27 after the Tennessee-Texas football game, and the record could be broken again this fall.
The Knoxville airport had its busiest day in history Sunday, serving more than the 10,000 travelers it expected. Early travel numbers come from airline booking data, McGhee Tyson spokesperson Becky Huckaby told Knox News, and the airport won't have a final tally until around Oct. 10.
The previous record was set just a week earlier when the airport served 8,679 travelers Sept. 20. While it's too early to make predictions about future home games like Tennessee vs. Alabama on Oct. 17, Huckaby said the airport could continue breaking travel records.
McGhee Tyson is now adjusting staff as fall breaks in the region continue through Oct. 19, Huckaby said. The airport is expecting high traveler counts during this time, she said, but "nothing as high as what we saw this Sunday." Last week's estimates, Knox News reported, included multiple days of 9,000-plus travelers during fall break season.
While students in Knox County Schools won't get their break until Oct. 5, students in nearby Alcoa (where the airport is located) are out of school this coming weekend, coinciding with Tennessee's home game against Auburn on Oct. 3.
How did President Trump's visit to Knoxville affect airport travel?
President Donald Trump made a short visit to Knoxville for last weekend's Tennessee-Texas matchup, adding another layer of complexity ahead of the busiest day in the nearly 100-year history of McGhee Tyson Airport.
Air Force One touched down at the Air National Guard base, which shares a runway with McGhee Tyson, around 11:30 a.m. Sept. 26 ahead of the noon kickoff.
The president's arrival and departure temporarily halted air traffic at McGhee Tyson Airport, Huckaby said, affecting up to 16 out of more than 120 flights scheduled that day. These types of freezes for VIP guests, she previously told Knox News, typically affect private jets or people flying their own aircraft.
Soaring travel numbers and broken records have been part of a hectic few years for the East Tennessee travel hub, which in 2024 was rated the fastest growing of all large U.S. airports. With ever-increasing traffic, the airport is working on Flight Plan, a decade-long initiative to renovate, replace and create new amenities at McGhee Tyson.
Knox News reporters Sophia Tiedge and Mariah Franklin are part of the Business Growth & Development team. Email: sophia.tiedge@knoxnews.com | mariah.franklin@knoxnews.com
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: McGhee Tyson's record day after Tennessee-Texas may not stand for long
