Unprecedented 119+ Million Americans Set to Travel for Year-End Holidays
The 2024-2025 holiday season is witnessing a record-breaking surge in travel as Americans take to the skies and roads in unprecedented numbers. AAA projects that a staggering 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday period from December 21 through January 1, surpassing the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers.
Air travel is spearheading this surge, with AAA expecting 7.85 million passengers to take domestic flights – a new record that outstrips last year’s 7.5 million air travelers. Airlines for America estimates that more than 54 million passengers will fly on U.S. carriers between December 19 and January 6, with carriers offering 140,000 more seats each day compared to the 2023 holiday period.
The busiest travel days are expected to be Friday, December 19, Saturday, December 20, and Sunday, December 21, according to industry forecasts. United Airlines anticipates flying more than 10 million passengers this season, while American Airlines operated more than 6,400 flights on its busiest day.
Interestingly, nearly 90% of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, with 107 million people expected on the roads – 2.5 million more than last year. Popular destinations include Florida, Southern California, Hawaii, and Caribbean resort towns, with travelers seeking warm-weather escapes to bid adieu to the year.
Source: AAA Newsroom