AAA Predicts Record Number of Travelers This Holiday
AAA predicts that his holiday season, 98.6 million Americans will hit the roads and sky this year. The number is up 4% from last year’s 94.8 million travelers. According to AAA, 91% of the 98.6 million travelers will take to the roads this holiday season.
The holiday season is defied as Tuesday, December 23 to Sunday, January 4.
’Tis the season for holiday travel, and this year more Americans will join with friends and family to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than ever before,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA President and Chief Operating Officer. “While the economy continues to improve at an uneven pace, it seems more Americans are looking forward with increasing consumer confidence, rather than looking back at the recession. This is helping to drive expected travel volumes to the highest level we have seen for the year-end holidays.”
“Lower gas prices are filling stockings with a little more cash to spend on travel this year as travelers are expected to pay the lowest prices since 2009,” continued Doney. “Lower prices are increasing disposable income and enabling families to set aside money for travel this year.”
AAA cites low fuel costs and the late-week holidays for an increase in travel, as many will take advantage of a 4-day weekend.
From AAA:
Highlights from 2014/2015 Year-End Holiday Travel Forecast:
- Holiday travel is expected to total 98.6 million, an increase of four percent from the 94.8 million who traveled last year.
- Travel volume for the year-end holidays will reach the highest peak recorded by AAA (since 2001).
- Nearly 91 percent of all travelers (89.5 million) will celebrate the holidays with a road trip, an increase of 4.2 percent from 2013.
- Air travel is forecast to grow one percent from 2013, with 5.7 million travelers taking to the skies.
- Low gas prices continue to help boost disposable income this holiday season, with today’s national average price of gas at $2.55 per gallon, 69 cents less than a year ago.