Christmas-New Year’s holiday travel in the US should reach its highest level ever, according to AAA.
The group estimates that 62.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 3% increase from last year’s 60.8 million travelers.
The reason: two holiday weekends.
Said AAA Travel vice president Sandra Hughes:
“With Christmas and New Year’s Day both falling on Saturdays, many people will make weekend getaways to be with friends and family.”
Having the two holidays fall on weekends this year has led to much more competition for available space at beach destinations, on cruise ships and at ski resorts, added Ms Hughes.
Approximately 50.9 million travelers (81% of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2.9% increase from the 49.4 million who drove a year ago.
Nearly 38 million passengers will travel by air during the holiday, defined generally as running from 17 December to 3 January, according to The Air Transport Association (ATA).
Over the upcoming holiday, domestic air travel is expected to be 5.6% greater than during the holiday travel season in 2003, says the ATA.
Report by David Wilkening
