AAA projects a record 72 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the nine-day Independence Day holiday period — from June 28 to July 6 — with new highs expected for both drivers and air travelers as summer travel reaches peak season.
The auto club forecasts nearly 62 million people will drive over the Fourth of July weekend, representing an increase of 1.3 million from last year. Air travel is expected to rise more than 1% over last year’s record numbers.
“The top 10 heaviest travel days in TSA history have all happened within the past year, and we expect to see more heavy volumes this summer,” said Kristie Jordan Smith, a Transportation Security Administration official at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
How technology at airports is reducing wait times
The Independence Day travel period is expected to be the summer’s busiest travel stretch.
Airport officials are implementing new technology to reduce wait times. At DFW, customs officials report wait times are down 25% thanks to enhanced passenger processing technology that uses facial recognition, now operational at nine airports nationwide.
CBP will soon test a program allowing customs to review X-ray images of checked bags from London flights, eliminating the need for connecting passengers to clear security twice in Dallas.
“This program streamlines and improves the travel experience for our customers, saving them time and reducing the complexity of clearing security while continuing to maintain the highest security standards,” said Jim Moses, Senior Vice President DFW Hub Operations at American Airlines. DFW is the airline’s largest hub.
AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said travel demand reflects both practical and emotional factors.
“We’re seeing travel in record numbers because travel isn’t just an economic and practical decision, it’s also an emotional decision,” Diaz said. “People don’t have to spend a lot of money when they go on these trips, but people want to get away and not be home.”
According to Priceline, top summer destinations include Las Vegas, Orlando, Tokyo and London.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.
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