Long lines formed at airports before daybreak Wednesday, and some drivers in the South saw winter hit the roads early as millions of Americans made the annual dash home for Thanksgiving.
AAA estimated that 38.3 million people would travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving – up a million from last year. Moderating gas prices may be one reason for the increase, said AAA’s Robert Sinclair.
AAA predicted 4.8 million travelers will fly. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey anticipated 1.6 million passengers – about 2 percent more than last year – would pass through LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark airports. By late afternoon Wednesday, the strains were evident, with airports reporting delays, and traffic jams on major thoroughfares.
The National Weather Service predicted heavy rain and winds in the Northeast, while drivers in the Carolinas and Virginia faced the high winds and flooded roads of an early winter storm.
Denver International Airport experienced no major problems, spokesman Chuck Cannon said, despite heavy traffic. A 10-minute wait early Wednesday for passengers to get through security was the worst of the delays, Cannon said.
DIA’s economy lots, with the exception of the Mount Elbert lot, were filled to capacity. The garages on both sides were still open late Wednesday, and airport officials don’t expect those garages to fill up before the end of the weekend, Cannon said.
