{"id":2131541,"date":"2023-12-22T09:19:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T14:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/busiest-holiday-travel-season-in-years-is-off-to-a-smooth-start-with-few-airport-delays\/"},"modified":"2023-12-22T09:24:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T14:24:07","slug":"busiest-holiday-travel-season-in-years-is-off-to-a-smooth-start-with-few-airport-delays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/busiest-holiday-travel-season-in-years-is-off-to-a-smooth-start-with-few-airport-delays\/","title":{"rendered":"Smooth start to busiest holiday travel season in years, with minimal airport delays"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbusiest-holiday-travel-season-in-years-is-off-to-a-smooth-start-with-few-airport-delays%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2131541&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Holiday \u2063Travel Rush\u200b Reaches\u200c Its Peak with \u200dPromising Conditions for Travelers<\/h2>\n<p>The holiday travel rush has hit its peak, and this\u200b year,\u2063 travelers can expect a more enjoyable experience compared to last year. With mild weather and lower flight cancellation rates, drivers and airline passengers are \u2064feeling optimistic.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. airlines have prepared for a blockbuster holiday season by hiring thousands of pilots,\u2062 flight attendants, and other \u2064workers. They are determined to \u2063avoid the delays and\u200b suspensions that plagued travel last\u2063 year, including \u200cthe Southwest Airlines debacle that left over 2\u2062 million \u200cpeople stranded.<\/p>\n<p>So far this year, airlines have only canceled 1.2% of U.S. flights, the\u2062 lowest rate in five years. \u200cHowever, the threat of bad\u2064 weather always looms. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has \u2063made it clear that the government \u2062will hold airlines accountable\u2063 for smooth operations and excellent treatment of passengers \u2062during\u200b disruptions. \u200bIn fact, Southwest Airlines recently \u2063agreed to pay\u2062 $140 million for their\u200b meltdown last year.<\/p>\n<p>As of early\u2062 Friday, there were less than 40 flights canceled \u200cnationwide in the U.S. and approximately 400 delayed, according to FlightAware.<\/p>\n<h3>Increased \u2064Travel and Strong \u2064Security Measures<\/h3>\n<p>Auto club AAA predicts that 115 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles or more \u200bfrom home\u2062 between Saturday and New\u200c Year&#8217;s Day, a 2% increase \u200bfrom last year.<\/p>\n<p>The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen over 2.5 million travelers on Friday, the busiest day for air travel this season, along with New Year&#8217;s Day. Although this falls \u2063short\u2062 of the record-breaking 2.9 million screened \u200don the Sunday \u200bafter Thanksgiving, it \u2063is still a significant number. \u2063Travel during the \u2063Christmas and New Year&#8217;s holidays tends to be \u2062more spread out.<\/p>\n<p>Despite\u2063 concerns about the economy, travel has remained \u200dstrong this year. \u2063Lower gas prices and airfares\u2062 have been beneficial for\u2063 travelers. The\u200c average gas price in the U.S. is \u200ccurrently \u200b$3.13 per \u200dgallon,\u2062 down 15 cents from a month ago. Additionally,\u2064 average airfares in October were 13% \u2062lower compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n<p>The busiest days on the road will be Saturday\u2063 and next \u2064Thursday, \u2064December 28,\u2064 according \u2064to transportation data provider INRIX.<\/p>\n<h3>International Travel Rebounds<\/h3>\n<p>Internationally, air travel has also rebounded,\u2063 although it is still below <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-dakota-lowers-unemployment-to-pre-pandemic-levels-after-state-rejected-lockdowns\/\" title=\"South Dakota Lowers Unemployment to Pre-Pandemic Levels After State Rejected Lockdowns\">pre-pandemic levels<\/a>. According to travel data\u2063 firm FowardKeys, airlines have \u2063sold 31% more tickets for international arrivals\u200b to global destinations between December 21\u2063 and December 31 compared\u2064 to the same period last year.<\/p>\n<p>However, some travelers in northern Europe\u2064 have\u2064 faced \u200cchallenges due to bad weather and labor unrest. A storm brought \u2063heavy rain and strong winds across the region, causing tree damage and flooding warnings along the North Sea coast. Additionally, workers at the\u2064 undersea tunnel between Britain and France went on \u2064strike, resulting in the \u2063cancellation of passenger and\u2064 vehicle-carrying \u2064services. Fortunately, an agreement was reached with the unions, \u2063and services are set to\u200d resume.<\/p>\n<p>In the U.S., AccuWeather forecasters predict rain storms in the Pacific\u2063 Northwest and\u2063 southern Plains states, including Texas, later this\u2063 week. However, \u200dpopulation centers and major airports in the Northeast can expect better conditions. Southern \u200dCalifornia experienced \u2064heavy rain\u2062 and street flooding from a\u2062 Pacific \u200dstorm on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the\u2062 TSA&#8217;s &#8220;TSA PreCheck&#8221; program help expedite the security screening process for eligible passengers?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Riday alone, making it one of the busiest travel \u200bdays of the year. To handle the increased \u200dtraffic, the TSA has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-woman-allegedly-steals-multiple-ballots-from-voters-mailbox\/\" title=\"Watch: Woman Allegedly Steals Multiple Ballots from Voter's Mailbox\">implemented strong security measures<\/a> to ensure the safety of all passengers.<\/p>\n<p>Passengers can expect to see more officers and K-9 teams at airports, as\u2063 well\u200c as enhanced screening procedures. The TSA has also invested \u200cin new technology, such as computed tomography\u2064 scanners, which provide a more detailed \u2063and accurate image \u200bof baggage, allowing for more\u2063 efficient screening. These measures aim to strike a balance between security\u200c and \u2063convenience for\u2062 travelers.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the TSA has implemented the &#8220;TSA PreCheck&#8221; program, which offers expedited screening for eligible\u2063 passengers. This program has \u200dproven\u2062 to be highly popular, with over 10 million passengers enrolled. PreCheck allows passengers to go through a dedicated security line, where they \u200bdo\u200b not have to remove their shoes, belts, or jackets, and can leave laptops\u200c and liquids \u2063in their bags. This saves valuable time and reduces the hassle of the security process.<\/p>\n<p>Travelers\u2064 are urged to \u200carrive at the airport early, as security\u200d lines may be longer than usual due to increased travel \u2063volume. The TSA recommends arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and\u200b three hours before international flights to allow enough time for\u200b check-in, security screening, and any\u200b potential delays.<\/p>\n<h3>Efforts to Ease\u200c \u200bRoad Traffic<\/h3>\n<p>While airports are expected to be \u200cbustling, roads will also be congested with holiday travelers. AAA predicts that over 100 million Americans will take to the roads this holiday season.\u200b To help ease road traffic, several states and transportation\u200c authorities have implemented \u200dstrategies such as adjusting \u200dtoll prices and temporarily lifting construction\u200c projects.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americans-resist-bidens-push-to-reinstate-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"Americans Resist Biden\u2019s Push to Reinstate Mask Mandate\">ride-sharing services<\/a> like Uber and Lyft have become\u200c increasingly \u2062popular alternatives to driving during the holiday season. These\u200c services offer convenient transportation \u200coptions that can help\u200d reduce traffic congestion\u2063 and alleviate the stress of finding parking.<\/p>\n<h3>A Positive \u200dOutlook for Travelers<\/h3>\n<p>Overall, this\u2062 year&#8217;s holiday travel \u2063rush seems to be off to a promising start. With the\u2064 efforts of airlines, transportation authorities, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-johnson-impeachment-appears-to-be-distraction-from-what-democrat-leadership-knew-about-jan-6\/\" title=\"Sen. Johnson: Impeachment Appears to Be Distraction From What Democrat Leadership Knew About Jan. 6\">increased security measures<\/a>, travelers can anticipate a smoother and more enjoyable travel experience compared to previous years.<\/p>\n<p>However, it is important for travelers to\u2064 remain flexible and prepared\u2063 for unforeseen circumstances. Weather conditions can change rapidly,\u200c and delays or cancellations may still occur. It is advisable to stay updated with flight or road condition information, \u200dhave proper travel insurance,\u200c and make necessary contingency plans.<\/p>\n<p>With the right\u2064 preparation and a positive mindset, holiday travelers can\u200d look forward to memorable moments and a smooth\u200b journey\u2063 to their desired \u200ddestinations. Whether it&#8217;s \u200bvisiting loved ones, exploring new places, \u200bor \u200csimply \u200btaking a well-deserved vacation, the holiday travel rush can be a part of the excitement and joy of the season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The holiday travel rush reached its peak on Friday, with improved weather and fewer flight cancellations. U.S. airlines anticipate a successful holiday season, having hired additional pilots and flight attendants to accommodate the expected crowds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2131542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2131541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2131541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2131542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2131541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2131541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2131541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}