AAA says more people will be traveling this holiday season

AAA says more people will be traveling this holiday season

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2020, file photo, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 takes off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Southwest Airlines expects travel demand to remain depressed in early 2021. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said Thursday, Nov. 19, that means his airline will have a lot more planes than it needs.

AAA projects 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, a 1.5% increase over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic volumes.

This year is projected to be the third busiest for Thanksgiving travel with only 2005 and 2019 seeing more travelers.

Nearly 49 million people are expected to drive, AAA says. 

Air travel is up nearly 8% over 2021, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destination.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released its Thanksgiving week schedule, which includes additional trains for Long Islanders, as local residents gear up for the holiday week ahead.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)