Indianapolis International Airport preparing to accommodate passengers travelling for Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis International Airport is getting ready to accommodate passengers travelling to central Indiana for the Indianapolis 500.

In a press release, airport officials indicated that they are expecting a high volume of Indy 500-related travel this weekend.

Per the Indianapolis Airport Authority, more than 111,000 passengers are expected to fly out of IND May 22-26. The IAA anticipates May 23-26 to be the busiest days at IND with about 74,000 passengers expected to depart from Indianapolis in that timeframe.

The IAA has forecasted that, on May 26 alone, roughly 23,000 people are expected to fly out of Indianapolis.

To accommodate the increased traffic, TSA Concourse A checkpoint will open at 3 a.m. May 23-26. The IAA expects most people roll through IND’s TSA checkpoints from 5-7 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.

Last year, 91,000 passengers traveled through IND during race weekend. This year, airport officials expect that number to increase by at least 20,000.

Numerous factors likely contributed to the forecasted traffic increase, chief among them is the fact that tickets to the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 have already sold out. According to The Associated Press, grandstand tickets to the Indianapolis 500 have not sold out since 2016.

In addition to the race, the Indiana Pacers will also host an Eastern Conference Finals game against the New York Knicks on race day. The Indianapolis 500 is slated to begin at 12:45 p.m. with the Pacers game to follow at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 8 p.m.

As they prepare for increased traffic at IND, airport officials released numerous safety tips for travelers:

REAL ID compliance

As of May 7, all passengers must have REAL IDs to board domestic flights and access certain facilities. REAL ID driver’s licenses have gold or black stars on them.

TSA PreCheck

Airport officials strongly encourage passengers to sign up for TSA PreCheck before travelling for big events like the Indianapolis 500. Travelers with TSA PreCheck do not need to remove shoes, belts, laptops and light jackets when going through airport security.

Tips to remember before leaving for the airport

• Always check the status of your flight before arriving at the airport
• Arrive two hours early to ensure you have sufficient time to get through security, find your gate and hear boarding instructions
• Download the mobile app the airline you’re flying with offers
• Verify that you have a mobile boarding pass or obtain a physical boarding pass from your airline
• Download the My TSA app for security information, tips and answers to frequently asked questions
• Examine parking options at IND here before heading to the airport

The 2025 Indianapolis 500 will air live on FOX59 this year. FOX59 will have live coverage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway starting at 5 a.m.