Article by GSP – Published on Thursday, 28 May 2026, 15:25 / Updated on Thursday, 28 May 2026 15:26
At weekends, traffic on the A1 and A3 is frequently heavy and travel time to the airport becomes unpredictable. If you don't take this into account from the start, you may not leave yourself enough time to prevent unexpected delays, to find an Otopeni Airport parking lot.
Next you will find what you need to take into account when you go on the highway to Henri Coandă Airport, here is what you need to know!
Why are A1 and A3 problematic on weekends?
Traffic on the A1 towards Pitesti and on the A3 towards Cluj increases especially on Friday afternoon and Sunday evening. Access to Otopeni via these roads is usually congested after 3-4pm and in the evening.
During the summer or around the holidays, the queue can start from tens of kilometers, which can mean a significant delay in the schedule.
Are you afraid that you will be late because you did not correctly anticipate what might happen? There are a few things you can do to prevent this.
How do you calculate your travel time correctly?
Don't go by the duration the app shows right before you exit. Traffic can get bad while you're on the road.
As a rule of thumb – on a regular route, if you're coming from 150 kilometers away and normally arrive in 90 minutes, reserve at least 2.5 hours if you're leaving on a Friday afternoon or Sunday evening. On days known for traffic jams, it doubles the time it takes on a normal day.
Remember that the time required for parking and the transfer to the terminal is added to the 2-3 hours recommended by the airport before the flight.
Checklist before any flight from Otopeni
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Check real-time traffic at least 2 hours before departure
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If you're leaving on Friday afternoon or Sunday evening, add half the normal travel time on top of the app's estimate
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Reserve a parking space at Otopeni Airport a few days in advance, especially if you are flying on weekends or holidays
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Confirm the time at which the shuttle leaves for the terminal and calculate your arrival at the Otopeni car park accordingly
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Check if your flight has schedule changes on the morning of departure
Where is the time wasted after you arrive?
Many travelers calculate the way, but forget what comes after the arrival. If you don't have a reserved place, you can waste 10-20 minutes looking for parking, then waiting for the transfer.
If you have a parking space in Otopeni reserved in advance, you know exactly where you are going and you don't waste time upon arrival. Automatic recognition of the registration number at the entrance also shortens the access time, without tickets, without additional stops.
Missing a flight due to traffic or not having a parking space are situations that can be avoided if you plan ahead. Calculate the realistic time, add a margin of safety and make sure you have an airport parking reserved before you leave home.
Olimpia Airport Parking is a private multi-storey car park at Otopeni Airport located 200 meters from the Henri Coandă terminal – the shortest distance from the terminal among the private car parks in the area. It offers more than 1,500 available seats (of which more than 1,000 are covered), free 24/7 transfer with Mercedes EQV electric shuttle and video surveillance with more than 850 cameras. The barrier automatically recognizes the registration number upon entry. Booking is 100% online, up to 6 months in advance.
Book your place on olimpiaparking.ro in advance, especially if you are going on the weekend and need a parking space in Otopeni for your car!
