Houston air traffic control handling 1,600 extra aircraft for Super Bowl

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- From private jets and Coast Guard helicopters to commercial flights, air traffic controllers at Houston airports have been extremely busy since Thursday with the Super Bowl in town. Houston skies have never been this busy.

"From the towers to the center everyone came together," Clay Matheny said.

Eyewitness News went inside the Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRAC. You can think of it as the hub for Houston airports. Trained professionals are making sure pilots and travelers land safely in and out of Houston.

"We have a lot of big time names coming to Houston we have several aircraft that are probably going to make several trips a day out here," said Matheny.

On a daily basis Houston airports see 2,500 aircraft a day with the big game in town there will be an extra 1,600 aircraft flying in and out making this a nationwide effort. Airports across the nation had to change their routes to meet the needs of Houston.

"This is going to be one of the busiest times that Houston air space has ever seen," said Matheny.

As for the folks traveling the skies they won't notice a major difference.

"We're ready for it we're excited for it," said Matheny.