As Labor Day weekend approaches, travelers are preparing to close out the summer amid crowded highways and record-breaking airport traffic.
According to AAA, domestic travel over Labor Day was 9% higher than last year, but travel spending within the U.S. was down 2%.
The Transportation Security Administration plans to screen more than 17 million passengers over the holiday weekend, in what officials expect to be the biggest Labor Day travel period on record.
Friday is expected to be a peak day for air travel, with 2.86 million passengers passing through security checkpoints.
“Domestic and international travel volumes have been strong over the summer, and with many kids in the region returning to school, no one is traveling over Labor Day,” said AAA spokesperson Lagina C. Ali. “But there are certainly plenty of people trying to squeeze in one last three-day weekend to close out the summer, and some will be taking the week after Labor Day to begin their ‘off-season’ travel. The off-season means cheaper travel costs and fewer crowds in many U.S. and international destinations.”
AAA said TSA’s top 10 busiest travel days all occurred since May.
AAA also urges drivers to make sure their vehicles are roadworthy.
“It is important for drivers to remember that their vehicles can break down over Labor Day weekend, just like any other time of the year, and to take every precaution to keep their vehicles roadworthy,” Ali said.
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