COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- For many holiday travelers, making it home for that home-cooked meal means going through the Colorado Springs Airport.

"I drove over the speed limit to get here, so I'm just ready to get onto the gate and get through security," Karen Fair, a holiday traveler headed to Tennessee, said.

It's one of the busiest times of the year, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the ticket counters, there are no lines or crowds to speak of.

Thanksgiving travel starts as early as the Sunday before the big feast.

Airport officials said their passenger numbers are down by about five percent but airlines have cut capacity nationwide.

Despite the fact, load factors are 95 to 100 percent full.

"We're always delighted when we have heavy load, and we're always happy when things go smoothly on a busy travel day," John McGinley, Asst. Director of Operations and Maintenance, said.

When it comes to keeping things running smoothly weather plays a big part.

With no snow in the forecast there are no delays in sight.

Colorado Springs resident Megan Beam moved to Colorado from the south and has no family in town. So, making it back to Alabama for the holiday is a big deal.

"I had to start completely over, but my nephew is turning 1, so I'm pumped," she said.