Nearly 52,000 people will travel in and out of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport during the two weeks surrounding Christmas. Some of them were greeted by two seasonal employees: Santa Claus and the Grinch.
Airport Director Ted Kitchens said employees started this tradition about three years ago. He travels with them and hands out candy canes. This year, he and Santa lost a popularity contest to the Grinch.
“We go out there and spread some cheer and some joy,” Kitchens said. “It’s so much fun to watch the kids, you know, stop at the top of the jet bridge. They’re like, ‘Oh my God, Santa’s here.’
“But what people loved most this year was the Grinch. People just wanted to have their picture taken with the Grinch,” he added.
As of Tuesday, flights were largely on time, with the exception of an American Airlines flight Tuesday morning that arrived 2 1/2 hours late due to a crew problem, Kitchen said.
Christmas is one of the busiest seasons at the airport, Kitchen said. But leaf peeping season and Thanksgiving are also here. Airlines added about 3.5% of seats this year and saw planes about 84% booked, Kitchens said.
“This is a good, solid offering for the holiday market,” Kitchens said.
He called on travelers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport and leave enough time to board their plane. Kitchens said the small size of the airport causes some to underestimate the time it will take to reach their gates.
“It’s easy to get in and out, but don’t take it for granted,” he added. “Don’t cut it too close. Give yourself a little extra time to get through the checkpoint so you have a pleasant ride to where your travels take you.
From next month, travelers will have another option at Manchester Airport with the arrival of a JetBlue aircraft on January 23.
