Busiest Christmas and New Year’s travel period kicks off in DC area
The Transportation Security Administration projects that the busiest days for flying nationwide are Thursday, Dec. 21; Friday, Dec. 29; and Monday, Jan. 1, with 2.5 million passengers on each of those days, a 6% increase over last year.
AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts that the holiday season will still fall 3% short of the record travel in 2019, the last Christmas before COVID-19 hit the U.S.
As of 1:45 p.m. there have been no flight cancellations yet, thankfully, according to FlightAware.com which tracks issues at airports. One traveler at Reagan National Airport even brought some holiday cheer for the stressful travel day.
“Just a standard blazer, but it’s bright red, with ‘ho ho ho’ all over it,” said Bill, describing the Christmas jacket he’s flying to New Hampshire in. “A little obnoxious, but ’tis the season.”
WTOP’s Kyle Cooper reported that long lines inside and outside of the airport had already started by 5 a.m.
“It’s really busy here. Things are running smoothly, but it’s busy,” Cooper recounted live on WTOP Thursday morning. “When I got here around 5 a.m. … I even had to wait to get into the parking garage. So, it was queued up a little bit there. So I thought, well, that’s an interesting sign.”
Briana Murphy is flying to Disney World with her husband and two kids. She said the hardest part of the holiday travel process — getting the kids out the door.
“That was not fun, we woke up at 3 o’clock,” Murphy said.
If you’re flying from Dulles International Airport, you might be able to at least beat the line of cars streaming into the airport. The Virginia airport reported that flyers being dropped off can enter the airport and quickly make it to the main terminal through a “Kiss & Fly” drop off area near the Dulles Metrorail Station.
It’s going to be a busy week at the airport! If you’re dropping off (or being dropped off), try our new Kiss & Fly drop off spot! It’s located near the Dulles Metro Station and provides easy access to the moving walkways that will take you straight to the Main Terminal! pic.twitter.com/DCKg2sLwZP
— Dulles Airport (IAD) (@Dulles_Airport) Dec. 18, 2023
While the regional airports might sound busy, AAA Mid-Atlantic predicts the vast majority of travelers in the D.C. metro area, 98%, will be driving to their destinations. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the roads will be congested this Thursday.
“While air travel ticks up, traffic numbers are rather unimpressive,” said WTOP Traffic reporter Dave Dildine, who added that the day that tends to be one of the busiest on the roads — two Fridays before the holiday — has already passed.
If you’re still preparing for that holiday road trip, don’t forget to bring important supplies that range from printed out driving directions, in case you don’t have service, to warm blankets, snacks and a flashlight in case there’s any kind of emergency that leaves you stuck on the roadway.
If you want to avoid most slowdowns, leave home early in the morning or late at night.
WTOP’s Kyle Cooper, Luke Lukert and Valerie Bonk contributed to this report.