Record Travel Expected for Fourth of July Weekend

A long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records. The Transportation Security Administration predicts that its officers will screen more than 3 million travelers at U.S. airports on Sunday. Nicole Lindsay thought she could beat the holiday-week travel rush by booking an early-morning flight, but it turned out to be quite busy as she herded her three daughters through Palm Beach International Airport in Florida.

Airlines hope the outcome is just as good for millions of other passengers scheduled to take holiday flights over the next few days. AAA forecasts that 70.9 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over a nine-day stretch, a 5% increase over last year. Most will drive, and traffic is expected to be heavy. Federal officials expect air-travel records to fall as Americans turn the timing of July Fourth into a long holiday weekend. TSA predicts over 3 million travelers at U.S.

airports on Sunday. American Airlines expects Sunday to be its busiest day of the summer with over 6,500 flights. TSA has enough screeners to handle the crowds. Passengers are undeterred by poor economic conditions, choosing to travel this summer. Flight delays affected passengers on about 3,000 flights Wednesday, with some experiencing delays due to spoiled meals on a Delta Air Lines flight.

Record-breaking travel numbers are expected as Americans kick off the Fourth of July holiday weekend.