The American Automobile Association (AAA) forecasts that the number of Americans planning air travel during the upcoming winter holidays will reach an all-time high, totaling 7.51 million individuals. This surpasses the previous record set during the 10 days from December 23 to January 1 in 2019 when 7.33 million Americans utilized airline services.
In total, holiday travel across all modes of transportation is expected for 115.2 million U.S. residents. This represents a 2.2% increase compared to the previous year and is the second-highest figure in history, following the 2019 record when 119 million Americans traveled during the holiday season, according to experts.
The forecast includes 103.6 million people planning trips of at least 50 miles (approximately 80 km) using automobiles. Analysts note that gasoline prices continue to decrease from multi-year highs and may drop below $3 per gallon during the upcoming holidays.
Additionally, 4.05 million individuals are expected to utilize other forms of transportation, including buses and trains, according to the AAA’s predictions.