New Mexico
Thanksgiving travel begins this week at Albuquerque Sunport
As sure as there will be turkey on the table, Thanksgiving week will be the busiest time to travel.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – As sure as there will be turkey on the table, Thanksgiving week will be the busiest time to travel.
“Pack your patience,” said Leah Black, Albuquerque International Sunport’s Outreach & Marketing manager.
Because as you’re traveling, so are millions of others.
“We’re a little spoiled, because our airport is pretty small, and it’s usually pretty efficient to get through,” said Black.
Black says predictions are in the thousands for our midsize airport.
“On Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, 20,000 people coming and going through the Sunport, which is crazy. And then the second-busiest day is going to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, at about 19,000 people,” Black said.
She’s telling passengers to arrive at the Sunport three hours early. Black says that should be enough time to navigate any issues with traffic, ticket counter lines, and parking, which ran out of room quickly this time last year.
“It’s going to fill up, it’s just a matter of when it will fill up. So I would say, watch our socials. But also, again, come three hours early because you might need to park in one of our third party off-site lots,” said Black.
Those lots are right next to the Sunport and offer a shuttle ride to your terminal. Another place you might be waiting a bit? The TSA security lines. But Black says new tech at the Sunport is helping move things along.
“They’re getting more people through per hour now than they have in the past,” Black said. “When you see an open bin, go up to it, you don’t need to wait behind the person in front of you anymore. People are always worried that they’re cutting the line.”
Things will certainly get more hectic as the week goes on, but some passengers planned for it.
“We’ve traveled before for Thanksgiving and decided to try and get ahead of it. So we’re doing Monday to Friday,” said Jennifer Clark, a visitor from New York.
Clark is visiting family in Santa Fe and says it was a good decision to fly Monday.
“We’re on time, and we had a connection. It’s been real easy,” said Clark. “One year we got caught in some weather, so we’ve decided this is a little easier.”
For locals Gail and Alan Hawkins, flying in Monday wasn’t a headache either.
“It was pretty busy, but it was very smooth. We didn’t have any problems,” said Gail.
Even if you are caught up in a hectic travel day, the Hawkins want to remind everyone to instead focus on the meaning of the holiday.
“Redeem the time. It’s precious. Be together and pay attention to one another,” said Alan.
As for hitting the roads, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation says construction on I-25 in the metro will continue.
Those lane closures won’t be lifted, but crews won’t be working Thanksgiving Day through Sunday.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.
Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.
“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”
A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.
Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.
Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.
Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
- Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
- Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
- Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
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