Happy reunion at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport as families and friends visit for Thanksgiving

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Will Rogers Global Airport has become a pre-Thanksgiving gathering center, bringing together family and friends who gather at the start of the holiday season.

“This little guy here, lights up your morning every morning. Yeah, you miss that when he’s gone, ”said Thomas Bass, hugging his young son, Tucker, after spending two weeks visiting family in San Antonio. “We are fortunate to have our family here, and family is really important to us. “

“I haven’t seen her for about three months, so I’m so excited to spend Thanksgiving with her,” said Ranee Nettey, who was awaiting her sister’s arrival.

“It’s wonderful, especially with, you know, people have been vaccinated. We can visit each other, ”said Karin Gordon.

Parents from out of town like Gordon flew to see their children. They told KFOR they hope this year’s vacation will be very different from last year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When COVID started our son came to us and we were all masked. So he slept in his tent above his car, ”Gordon said. “We ate all meals outside.

Chris Carlyle told News 4 he is from Orlando, Florida. Dressed in his cowboy hat, he said he was ready to see the Oklahoma Standard after not seeing his brother for almost a year.

“You know I have my country side in me. My brother works for the branch of the military here. We’re having a good Thanksgiving. They just gave him a nice house near the base, so we’ll check it out, ”Carlyle said. “We’re going to have a good Thanksgiving. “

Ranee Nettey said she counted the days until she could see her sister, Gabreilla, who was in college in Georgia.

“When we dropped her off at school, I was just waiting for the Thanksgiving break because I knew I would miss her so much,” Nettey said. “She’s from Atlanta, Georgia. She is studying beetroot at Emory University.

“What excites you the most? News 4 asked Gabriella after arriving. “Probably to eat on Thanksgiving and just see all my friends since I left college.”

All said they were just happy to surround themselves with those they care about most.

“It’s good to be there as a family, a lot of people are in the future or in the present. It’s about love and being present, ”Carlyle said.

Airport officials said 5,300 people are expected to take off this Friday and expect Sunday to be very busy as well.

Traffic is expected to resume for Christmas around December 15th.