Thanksgiving Travel By Air, Car Expected To Drop

New York, NY (AHN) - There will be less Americans who will travel by air and car for Thanksgiving, according to the yearly AAA survey. According to AAA chief executive Robert Darbelnet, who bared the findings of the survey Tuesday, 41 million U.S. residents will travel this year a minimum of 50 miles from home for the Thanksgiving weekend.

The figure will likely be 1.4 percent less compared to the 41.6 million who took the Thanksgiving holiday in 2007. The largest decline will be registered by the aviation industry where the drop is expected to reach 10 percent, said the Air Transport Association of America.

Despite the anticipated reduction in air travelers on the last week of November, President George Bush announced on Tuesday Pentagon will open military airfields to reduce anticipated air traffic congestion during the Thanksgiving holidays. Last year Bush opened the military airfields in the East Coast, this year the president included military bases in the Midwest, Southwest and West Coasts. The opening of the military air fields extend to the Christmas holidays.

James May, chief executive of the Air Transport Association, said even if there will be less Thanksgiving travelers, the fourth week of November will still be one of the busiest times of the year for air carriers.

Also expected to be affected by the Thanksgiving travel dip are car trips due to the higher cost of gasoline, although at $2.39 a gallon price in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, it is still $1 less compared to last year. In lieu of car trips, Americans may opt to reach their destinations by taking the train or bus.