CLE Prepares for 100 Days of Summer

May 27, 2021

Press Releases

As Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) approaches one of the busiest seasons of the year, here is important information for travelers during the ‘100 days of summer.’

As CLE continues to recover in passenger activity from the severe decline from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important for passengers to remember to still arrive early for their flight.  This summer from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend CLE anticipates more than 2 million guests. By comparison, last summer CLE had approximately 900,000 passengers during the same timeframe. The 2 million passengers expected in 2021 is 63% of the same timeframe from 2019 where 3,170,000 passengers travelled through CLE.

The airport and its partners are well-poised for the increased number of travelers and offer the following travel tips.

Travel Tips

Federal law requires wearing a mask at all times in and on the airport and failure to comply may result in removal and denial of re-entry. Refusing to wear a mask in or on the airport is a violation of federal law; individuals may be subject to penalties under federal law. This mandate will be in place until September 13th, 2021.

Airport officials encourage travelers to arrive at least 2 hours before scheduled departures to allow time for inclement weather, traffic, parking, check-in and going through the checkpoints.  Please look for signs and Landside Operations employees are available to help passengers find where they need to go.

CLE’s website is a one-stop shop for travel information.  Visit the website at www.clevelandairport.com to check the following:

  • Flight statuses
  • Airline contact information
  • Dining and retail options
  • Art exhibit locations
  • Current TSA Checkpoint wait times
  • Status of airport parking entities

CLE continues to sanitize and disinfect high traffic areas at the airport multiple times daily. Airport staff has developed and deployed sprayers that apply product in an effort to rapidly sanitize and disinfect large and high traffic areas at the Airport. CLE has installed shields at information counter and police podiums. To assist our guests with social distancing, stickers have been placed around the facility to remind everyone to stay 6 feet apart. CLE has also designated line overflow locations on ticketing to maintain social distancing at peak travel times.

Follow CLE on Twitter at @GoingPlacesCLE and on Facebook at facebook.com/CLEairport for important announcements.

Consider using an airline’s website to do advance check-in to print boarding passes up to 24 hours before departure. 

There are six separate on-site parking options, including:

  • The Smart Parking Garage, $20 per day.
  • The Red Lot, $18 per day.
  • The Blue Lot, $16 per day
  • The Orange Lot, $15 per day.

Picking up friends and family at the airport?  Don’t circle around waiting for an arrival.  Park and wait in the CLE Cell Phone Lot located off State Road 237 South.  Follow the blue directional signs for easy parking.

RTA Red Line to the airport

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers convenient service to and from CLE. RTA's Red Line provides regular service between CLE and downtown Cleveland via the Tower City Station. The trip takes less than 30 minutes and trains depart from CLE every 25 minutes for the majority of the day.

For more information, visit the RTA web site at www.riderta.com or call The RTAnswerline at 216-621-9500.

TSA travel tips

Always have a government-issued ID ready to present at the airline ticket counter and security checkpoint. CLE’s Checkpoint Wait Times feature allows travelers to select the shortest security line or view the expected wait time at the closest checkpoint line.  This amenity is also available on our website, www.clevelandairport.com.

Be prepared for the screening process:

  • Look through luggage to ensure no prohibited items are in the bag prior to coming to the airport.
  • All three CLE checkpoints have Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines for passenger screening. Be prepared for metal detectors and x-ray machines for carry-on items.
  • Remember the TSA 3-1-1 rule for carry-on items – Three ounces (3 oz.) per container, in a clear one-quart bag, one per passenger. 
  • Knives, scissors with pointed tips, pepper spray and other such items are prohibited as carry-on items.  For a comprehensive list of banned and permitted items, visit the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Web site at www.tsa.gov.
  • Carry-on luggage is restricted to one bag and one personal item per person.  A personal item includes a purse, briefcase or laptop bag. 
  • Outer coats, jackets and other such garments must be removed and put through x-ray screening.
  • Children under the age of 12 years old do not require an ID and will not have to remove their shoes before going through security.

TSA Pre✓™ is available at CLE and allows select frequent flyers of participating airlines and members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs who are flying on participating airlines, to receive expedited screening benefits. Eligible participants use dedicated screening lanes for screening benefits which include leaving on shoes, light outerwear and belts, as well as leaving laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags.  TSA Pre✓™ has one available lane at South Checkpoint during peak hours and Central is TSA Pre✓™ only.

For more information on TSA Pre✓™ visit http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck

Previous Post Next Post