AAA forecasts more Thanksgiving travelers to hit the road, but fewer to take to the skies

AAA: Thanksgiving travel to go up, air travel down

WASHINGTON — A leading auto organization is projecting a 1.4 percent increase in Thanksgiving travel this year, although fewer people will travel by air due to budget concerns, reduced airline capacity and added charges.

AAA said Wednesday it expects 38.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over this year’s holiday weekend compared to 37.8 million last year. The number of automobile travelers is expected to be 33.2 million compared to 32.5 million last year — an increase of 2.1 percent.

Air travel, however, is projected to decline 6.7 percent, or 2.3 million travelers this year compared to 2.5 million in 2008. AAA said the share of Thanksgiving travelers journeying by air has been declining for a decade.