Liverpool John Lennon Airport expects to handle more than 140,000 passengers during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
The airport anticipates passenger numbers for the whole of 2018 will pass five million in the coming days, which will mean the annual total is the highest for seven years.
The numbers passing through over the festive holiday period will be up by 3% year-on-year and Friday (December 21) will be one of the busiest days, with about 15,000 passengers departing and arriving.
The most popular destinations will be those serving winter ski resorts, such as Geneva, and those offering warmer weather such as Tenerife.
There will also be busy services to destinations such Dublin, Belfast and the Isle of Man for those travelling to see friends and families.
The airport will help passengers get into the festive mood on Friday with a Christmas DJ, face painters and Father Christmas.
Bosses at the airport have reminded travellers that restrictions on liquids carried in hand luggage remain in place, and urge passengers to keep presents unwrapped if they are to be carried in hand luggage.