This year is projected to be one of the busiest travel years in nearly two decades, with approximately 43.8 million people expected to travel at least 50 miles. Joy Noelle Balanag, who booked her vacation in advance, is excited for the potentially record-breaking summer rush and plans to travel by airplane and car to see where the season takes her. AAA anticipates a nearly 5% increase in airline travel this Memorial Day weekend, with United Airlines planning to fly over half a million people a day and Delta expecting 3 million passengers. While most travelers will drive, gas prices are up about 8 cents a gallon nationally compared to last year’s Memorial Day weekend.
The willingness to take more adventurous trips and embrace a “you only live once” mentality has increased travel options since the COVID-19 pandemic, with cruising being one of the fastest-growing options. The cruise industry is expecting a record high of nearly 35 million passengers this year, and passengers on board the Carnival Firenze cruise ship are enjoying multiple destinations without having to constantly pack and unpack their suitcases. With food, entertainment, and a casino, cruising offers a unique vacation experience. AAA predicts that 2024 will rival 2005 as the busiest Memorial Day travel weekend since the organization began keeping track in 2000, with the busiest times on the roads anticipated to be from noon to 7 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day.
United Airlines has identified Thursday as its busiest day of the Memorial Day weekend, and the top travel destinations this year include Florida, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Denver. Kris Van Cleave, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News, is based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms. The combination of increased airline and road travel, as well as the cruise industry’s record high passenger numbers, indicate that people are eager to explore new destinations and take advantage of vacation opportunities in 2024. With a sense of adventure and a desire to make the most of their vacation time, travelers are expected to contribute to the busiest Memorial Day travel weekend in years.
