According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), more than 17 million people are expected to fly during the 7-day period surrounding Labor Day, from August 28th to September 4th. American Airlines anticipates a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.

On August 30th alone, over 2.86 million people are expected to pass through airports, making it the busiest day. Airport authorities, including those at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), emphasize that travelers should arrive at least 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights. They also advise checking flight departure and arrival times, as well as surrounding traffic conditions, to avoid missing flights. Meanwhile, the American Automobile Association (AAA) expects domestic travelers during this Labor Day weekend to increase by 9% compared to last year, leading to a significant rise in road travelers.

Bob Pishue, an analyst at the traffic data company INRIX, stated, “Severe road congestion is expected due to the increase in road travelers,” adding that congestion is expected to start mixing with commuter traffic from the afternoon of August 29th. According to INRIX, the worst times to drive are Thursday, August 29th from 1:00 PM to 7:30 PM, August 30th from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and August 31st from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Furthermore, on September 2nd, as people begin returning from their trips, traffic is expected to be congested from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

One reason for the increase in road travelers is the drop in gasoline prices. According to AAA, gasoline prices have been declining for four consecutive weeks leading up to Labor Day weekend and are now at their lowest level since February. As of August 28th, the national average gasoline price was $3.36, down 4.3% from $3.50 a month ago.



<Hwang, Eui-kyung>