Piling into the car to sit in traffic on the way to a family Thanksgiving celebration is a longstanding US tradition. Just how much traffic to expect is tied to what’s going on in the air.
“[AAA expects that] 73 million people will travel by car,” spokesperson Aixa Diaz told the BBC, “That number could end up being higher if some travellers decide to take road trips to avoid airports.”
According to AAA’s forecast, there will be an additional 1.3 million people on the road compared to last Thanksgiving. Beating the rush means getting out early, with AAA recommending travellers leave before noon on 25 November or before 11:00 on 26 November to avoid the worst traffic. Return drives are predicted to be busiest from 11:00 to 20:00 on Sunday 30 November.
Advice? Fill up with petrol the day before you leave to minimise wait times.
Long-term effects
Although Thanksgiving weekend is expected to run smoothly, experts predict some degree of travel-industry fallout as a result of the government shutdown. The US is already short almost 3,000 air traffic controllers due to insufficient hiring and limited training capacity, a decade-long issue that Hansen expects may worsen over time if potential new employees grow fearful of job insecurity in the field.
“The fact that essential workers had to work for 43 days without pay, that’s not going to inspire you to sign up for what could be a great career in air traffic control,” he said.
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Hansen hopes that with the shutdown over, the FAA can now focus on improving the overall experience for travellers, such as upgrading airport technology and hiring much needed additional staff.
“When travel slows down, America slows down,” he said. And when it comes to a festive holiday, it’s best to experience that relaxed pace once you’ve reached your destination.
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