NEWARK, N.J. — People passing through Newark Liberty International Airport enjoyed short waits and plenty of space on their flights on Christmas Day, a lull in the normally busy two-week travel period around this time of year.

“It was very quiet,” said Keri Potts, 29, a publicist for ESPN who lives in Hoboken. “There were no babies on the plane. It was perfect. I would do it again. I don’t know why the rush to get there beforehand if the 25th is much more convenient.”

Potts, who axed plans for a trip to her parents in Denver because of a snowstorm there, instead took a two-day trip to Chicago to visit relatives. She returned to spend what was left of Christmas with her sister and fiance.

“It was very roomy on the plane,” Potts said. “It could be a new strategy for me.”

Besides more personal space and early flight arrivals, some travelers said the bonus for traveling on the holiday came in the form of good bargains.

Emre Kandemir and his 14-year-old son, Teo, found flights from Chicago to Paris, by way of Newark, for about $600 each.

“We got a cheap fare,” said Kandemir, 43, a computer engineer who said he had never flown on Christmas before. “It just worked out that way.”

Others said they make a tradition of flying on the holiday.

Dominic Guillosson flies on Christmas every few years to St. Louis to visit his wife’s family. They were racing for their plane Monday afternoon.

“It’s quiet and usually a good day to travel, and that’s kind of why we do it,” said Guillosson, as he headed to the plane with his wife and their 7-year-old son.