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SALT LAKE CITY — Imagine the longest line you've ever stood in at the airport. Then imagine that happening every time you fly. New studies show it's a reality for the future of Salt Lake International Airport.
Two new reports say Salt Lake and the rest of the nation's top airports are headed toward overload and congestion weekly by 2016 and daily by 2038, unless the infrastructure is updated.
New York, Las Vegas, Orlando and Chicago already are at those day-before-Thanksgiving levels one day a week. When one airport is busy, it ripples out to affect the others.
Reasons for increased congestion included more passengers and airline consolidation funneling travelers through fewer hubs.
The reports say the fixes will come with increased funding and updated to air traffic control systems.
The companion studies were released Wednesday by the U.S. Travel Association and the Eno Center for Transportation.
