Tampa International Airport (TPA) expects to handle around 300,000 passengers between Friday and Monday as Memorial Day weekend kicks off one of the busiest travel periods of the year. While TPA officials say the airport is fully prepared and does not anticipate local staffing issues, they caution that problems at other airports across the country could still impact flights in Tampa due to the interconnected nature of the national air travel system. “We are very confident that our air traffic control tower here is fully staffed and ready to handle the summer,” Emily Nipps, spokesperson for TPA, said. “But keep in mind that when there’s something that happens at a major airport someplace else, it impacts us as well”. Passengers arriving at TPA shared concerns about recent reports of staffing shortages and equipment failures at airports nationwide. “With some of the air traffic control controller issues, some of the understaffing at the airport and some of that stuff, you know, you had a little apprehension and concern,” traveler William Giles said. Despite these worries, airport officials and experts emphasize that TPA remains safe. “The operation is safe. The radios are good. Visibility is generally good,” Mark Weinkrantz, 10 Tampa Bay aviation expert and former commercial jet pilot, said. However, Weinkrantz acknowledged that the airport’s control tower, now over 50 years old, is among the oldest in the nation and faces challenges such as leaky pipes, sewage fumes and unreliable elevators. “The tower is old and it needs to be updated,” Weinkrantz said. “If the elevator doesn’t work and the bathroom doesn’t work at the tower and somebody needs a break, they are away from their station, increasing the workload for other people while they have to come into the terminal.” Plans for a new control tower were announced in 2023, but TPA officials have reported little progress since then. “Back then we had heard that we were on the list for replacement. You know, our tower is one of the oldest towers in the country. We are working to help FAA get that replaced at some point. But, more to come on that,” Nipps said. Travelers are advised to check their flight status frequently and arrive at the airport early, as delays elsewhere in the country can cause ripple effects in Tampa. “Hopefully, there will be no delays, and that we can all get to where we’re going to have the time we want to have this weekend,” passenger Marcie Dubrow said. TPA remains confident in its ability to manage the holiday rush, but with the aging national air traffic control infrastructure and staffing shortages in other regions, officials urge travelers to stay alert and prepared for possible disruptions.