Despite the busiest travel days ahead of Christmas already passing, December 23 and 24 are still expected to see significant air and ground traffic.
AAA estimates that nearly 120 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for the holidays, an increase of three million compared to last year. Over the weekend, airports across the country were bustling, with weather disruptions causing challenges for some travelers.
Rain and snow in the Midwest and Northeast led to numerous delays and cancellations. At Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport, 269 delays and five cancellations were reported on December 22, according to FlightAware.
AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz advised air travelers to arrive early at airports:
“Give yourself plenty of time. It’s better to arrive early and relax, even if it means waiting around, rather than rushing or missing your flight.”
For those driving to their destinations, AAA recommends traveling earlier in the day to avoid congestion.
Post-Christmas travel is also expected to be busy, with December 26, 27, and 29 anticipated to be the most crowded days at airports.
