Thanksgiving travel is projected to drop a bit

Thanksgiving travel is projected to decline slightly this year, the first drop since 2002, AAA said today.

According to AAA Southern New England, 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home Thanksgiving weekend, a decrease of 1.4 percent, or 600,000 travelers, from last year’s total of 41.6 million.

The Northeast region of the United States is projected to see decreases that are less than the national averages: an 0.1 percent decrease in travel by car and an 0.9 percent decrease in overall travel, AAA said.

AAA added in a press release, "This is the first decline in Thanksgiving holiday travel since 2002 and the fourth consecutive travel holiday this year (after Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day) with a year-to-year decline in the number of travelers."

(The photo at right, taken by Elise Amendola of the AP, shows Thanksgiving week travelers at Logan International Airport last year.)

“The overall state of the economy continues to present real challenges for some Americans looking to travel this Thanksgiving,” Lloyd P. Albert, AAA Southern New England senior vice president, said in a statement. “However, the desire to spend time with family, combined with significantly lower gasoline prices than earlier this year, will provide a strong impetus for many Americans to travel this holiday season.”

More than 33.2 million Americans, or 81 percent of all holiday travelers, expect to travel by automobile, a 1.2 percent decrease from the 33.6 million who drove a year ago, AAA said.

AAA said it "estimates that air passengers can expect airfares 8 percent higher than last year, while car rental prices are expected to be 4 percent higher."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)