Thanksgiving Travel Expected to be the Busiest Since Before COVID-19

(KNSI) — Travel experts are predicting air and road traffic levels this week to be at pre-pandemic levels.

Officials with the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport say Wednesday will be the busiest day, with 32,000 passengers expected to pass through security. AAA’s Mark Jenkins says spending on travel has rebounded this year, so his agency expects travel volumes to follow suit. “We encourage people to arrive at the airport ar least two to three hours before their flight [and] monitor the status of your flight.” Airline apps often notify passengers of any last minute changes, cancellations or delays.

AAA says 4.5 million people will fly to their Thanksgiving destinations, up 8% from last year. Many say they are traveling regardless of high airfare or gas prices because they haven’t been able to celebrate with their families for three years.

Around 54 million people will go 50 miles or more for their holiday. Fifty million of them will drive. For those hitting the road, AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is down 13 cents in the last week to about $3.61, but it is still 21 cents higher than a year ago and a dollar higher than it was before COVID-19. That price is also the highest national average for Thanksgiving since the agency started keeping such records in 2000.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Minnesota is about $3.43.

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