Air traffic control

Alex Coolman

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- Crunch time came to John Wayne Airport on

Wednesday, with the biggest crowds of the year trying to make it into the

air.

But an informal survey of travelers indicated that fears about

nightmarish travel conditions were unfounded: Most visitors to John Wayne

were cruising toward turkey with very little hassle.

“It’s mellow,” said San Clemente resident Michael Barrett, who was

waiting to check his luggage onto a United flight to Chicago. “Maybe it’s

going to be busy tonight.”

At most ticket and rental car counters, lines were modest.

The day before Thanksgiving is traditionally John Wayne’s busiest of

the year, said Ann McCarley, a spokeswoman for the airport.

“Last year, when the day before Thanksgiving was on a Wednesday, the

passenger count was 27,120 in that one day,” she said.

On a typical Wednesday, about 5,000 fewer passengers pass through the

airport, she said.

In general, McCarley said, the added load was not causing any chaos.

“Things are moving along smoothly so far,” she said. “We’re not

anticipating any problems.”

Visitors who arrived at John Wayne from other airports also reported

few complications.

Leah Kenworthy, who flew in from her home in San Francisco to visit

relatives in Huntington Beach, said even San Francisco’s airport was

running smoothly.

“Our flight almost left on time!” she noted.

Beatrice Bushnell flew in from Oakland to visit her sister-in-law in

Cypress. She said she normally doesn’t travel on holidays, but on this

occasion she had given it a whirl, and she thought things were going

well.

“It wasn’t as bad as I expected,” she said -- at least, not so far.

“I hope I put my suitcase on the right airline,” she said, watching

the luggage belt whirl slowly around. “I’ve been standing here awhile.”