More Americans are expected to get behind the wheel or take to the skies this Thanksgiving than last year (Thanksgiving), but new work habits created by the pandemic could have some impact.
Experts say the pandemic and the ability many now have to work remotely are blurring the lines between business and personal travel. They believe that many people will start commuting earlier, or get home later, than they normally would because they’re working from home — or at least that’s what they tell their boss.
The busiest days for Thanksgiving trips are usually the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday, and then the Sunday after. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration anticipates Tuesday will be its busiest day this year, with some 48,000 flights scheduled.
The migration seems to have started early this year. The US Transportation Security Administration saw nearly 2.33 million travelers pass through on Sunday; it is the first year that the number of air passengers has surpassed the 2.32 million filtered on Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2019, before the start of the pandemic.
“People travel on different days. Not everyone travels on Wednesday evening, analyzed Sharon Pinkerton, of the group Airlines for America. People are spreading their trips throughout the week, which I think will also contribute to a smoother operation. »
The American Automobile Association believes 54.6 million people will drive at least 75 miles from their homes in the United States this week, up 1.5% from Thanksgiving last year and only 2% less than in 2019. The organization specifies that 49 million people will travel by car, and that 4.5 million will take the plane between Wednesday and Sunday.
US airlines have been surprised by the rise in passenger numbers this year.
“We’ve had a busy summer,” said Ms.me Pinkerton, whose group represents leading airlines like American, United and Delta. Companies have streamlined their schedules and hired thousands of employees, she said, and they now have more pilots than before the pandemic. Consequently, “we are confident that the week will go well,” she assured.
US carriers expect to offer 13% fewer flights this week than at the same time in 2019. However, since planes will be larger on average, there will be only 2% fewer seats, according to Cirium.
Air carriers and the US government assign each other responsibility for delays that occur.
The Transportation Security Administration anticipates that airports will be busier than last year and that the situation will be comparable to 2019.
Travelers do not seem intimidated, on the road or in the air, by higher gas prices or more expensive plane tickets than last year. Concerns about inflation and the economy don’t seem to be encouraging them to stay home either. A very busy travel season is already predicted for Christmas and the New Year.
“This bottled up demand for travel is very real. It doesn’t look like it’s going to go away, said Tom Hall, a Lonely Planet vice president. It keeps planes full and prices high. »