Summer airline travelers expect to face a Fourth of July holiday crush. LAX among the busiest

The uptick in travelers reflects the continuing growth in air travel since COVID-19 health restrictions were lifted.

Officials at Ontario International Airport are expecting a 10.3% increase in travel between Tuesday, July 2, and Sunday, July 7.

That translates into approximately 117,805 visitors moving through the airport.

Ontario airport is still asking passengers to arrive two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours for international departures. Parking should also be reserved in advance.

Long Beach Airport did not release projections for the Fourth of July. The hub, however, is coming off a record-breaking May.

A new all-time high of 189,435 travelers passed through its doors in May, surpassing the airport's previous best of 182,382 in March.

"LGB's unwavering dedication to delivering easygoing, first-class service exceeds expectations for travelers and fuels economic growth and prosperity for our region," said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson in a statement.

The transportation hub is preparing to deal with the holiday rush by increasing staffing along the curbs and crosswalks to keep traffic flowing, said public affairs officer Kate Kuykendall. Other enhancements include the addition of a temporary cellphone waiting lot and special accommodations for large groups.

"Although this is a very busy time for our airport, we are proud to offer the most easygoing and convenient passenger experience in the region," Kuykendall said.

Hollywood Burbank Airport did not release projections for the Fourth of July.

The airport's most up-to-date figures saw a slight increase in travel for April, with 508,043 passengers. That was a bump of just under 1,500 travelers from the same time last year.

Orange County's John Wayne Airport also did not offer any projections for the Independence Day travel season. Unlike its counterparts, it saw a dip in travel in May. The airport serviced 950,740 passengers last month, marking an 8.7% decrease compared with May 2023 (1,041,342).