The countdown has begun for a celestial showstopper as the upcoming total solar eclipse has cities like Austin prepping for an influx of sky-watchers and their accompanying travel hiccups. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a heads-up to airports and airlines for potential disruptions on April 8, a day when the skies will darken mid-flight path, and Austin's Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is reportedly ready for action, beefing up staff and bracing for record-breaking passenger numbers, according to LMT Online.

Hotspots for the eclipse—particularly in Texas, where Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio lie in the moon's looming shadow—are forecasted to experience a cascade of flight delays and packed parking lots, and it's not just a runners-on-your-mark for airports, but roads are also set to brim with traffic and rubbernecking drivers, according to a KUT News report. The FAA warned that, during the event's peak from approximately 1:30 p.m. CST to 2:40 p.m. CST, airports should anticipate higher traffic volumes than normal, parking may be limited especially at the smaller, uncontrolled airports, and with such predictions, Austin airport personnel have been called to the front lines in guiding this surge of travelers with updated queue systems and beefed-up department operation centers ready to counter any unforeseen eclipse day glitches, as per LMT Online.

Flying in to catch the dark mid-day marvel in Texas's capital might be the simple part as returning a rental car could become the real challenge, the airport expects more than double the normal influx of rental car returns and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport spokeswoman Elizabeth Ferrer urged sky-gazers to come early to beat the expected long lines and delays in dropping off their rides in a statement obtained by Chron. With preparations in high gear, travelers are advised to get to the airport ahead of time—three hours for domestic and three and a half for international flights, as reported by LMT Online.