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Are you traveling somewhere this holiday season? By no means will you be alone on U.S. highways, byways and skyways. Approximately 92 million Americans plan to travel between now and Jan. 2, according to AAA Southern New England - CT.
This is a slight increase 1.4 percent over the number of holiday travelers last year. AAAs projections are based on research by IHS Global Insight, an economic research and consulting firm.
Of the 92 million intrepid holiday travelers:
- Approximately 91 percent (83.6 million people) will take to the nations roadways;
- Some 6 percent (5.4 million) will fly;
- About 3 percent (2.9 million people) will employ another mode of transportation (not counting reindeer-driven sleighs).
What are people paying for gas this year as compared with last? The average price of $3.21 is 23 cents higher. Statewide, the average gas price of $3.53 is 31 cents higher. The price of gas peaked nationally on May 5 at $3.98. In Connecticut, the high price was $4.28, May 12.
This years air travel volume is the seventh lowest in the past decade, with nearly 2 million fewer travelers expected to fly than during the 2002 holiday peak. Jet fuel costs, airline capacity cuts and higher airfares are all to blame for the dearth of holiday air travelers.
Despite the downturn in air travel, this years overall travel numbers are good news for the travel industry, says AAA's Fran Mayko.
This years overall numbers represent the second highest expected travel volume in the past decade. (Holiday travel peaked in 2006-2007 when 93.7 million people traveled.) Also, more people appear to be traveling because this years 11-day year-end period the longest holiday travel season of the year affords many Americans extra time to visit family or take vacations.
Fifty-nine percent of travelers feel the economy has either no impact on their travel plans or they feel as if things have improved for them. This, says Mayko, is a reminder of just how important traveling is to Americans.
Wherever and however you travel, do so safely.
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