NORFOLK, Va. — Friday marks the beginning of the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush with millions of people planning to hit the road or head to the airport. Some airlines are expecting their busiest Thanksgiving travel period to date.
According to AAA, an estimated 1.43 million Virginians are expected to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, with 1.3 million traveling by automobile, 98,984 by air and 24,562 by another mode of transportation.
Across the country, AAA projects 4.7 million travelers will fly over Thanksgiving, an almost 7% increase from last year. This would mark the highest number of people flying for Thanksgiving since 2005. When it comes to people hitting the roads, AAA expects to see 55.4 million people driving 50 miles or farther.
In addition, VDOT says they plan to make things a bit easier by suspending many work zones and lane closures.
"To make Thanksgiving travel more enjoyable and, most importantly, safe, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Wednesday, Nov. 22 until noon on Monday, Nov. 27," they said.
However, they also pointed out that while lane closures will be lifted in most locations, "motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. Check VDOT’s Weekly Lane Closures and Travel Advisories for the latest travel alerts in your area and around the state."
The concourse in the Norfolk International Airport saw a steady stream of passengers coming in and out throughout Friday. Officials with the airport are expecting to break some of their records with thousands of passengers flying through.
Charlie Braden with Norfolk International Airport said they’re seeing about 8,000 travelers depart from Norfolk just Friday, a 10% increase from what they saw this same day last year. That will jump up to 20% on Saturday and will continue climbing as Thanksgiving gets closer.
“We’re manned up and we’re ready to handle the passengers,” Braden told 13News Now.
That being said, he emphasizes airport staff is ready and asks passengers to arrive early since the airport will be busy.
“We really suggest that the passengers arrive at the airport two hours in advance of their flight to allow enough time to park, to check in, to get past security screening, and get to their gate," Braden said. "It’s gonna be a busy time, but we’re ready.”
For those hitting the road, AAA Spokesperson Ryan Adcock encouraged people to pack their patience.
“There’s going to be traffic, there’s going to be congestion," Adcock told 13News Now. "It comes with the territory of a lot of people being on the road. At the end of the day, everyone is just trying to get to their Thanksgiving destination safely.”
Whether you’re flying or driving, both Adcock and Braden say to take your time and stay safe.
“Arrive early, have some patience and have a good vacation,” Braden said.
AAA said the busiest day to be on the road will be the day before Thanksgiving. Braden said they’ll see a lot of their traffic at the airport the same day, as well as the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
AAA also said it’s also a good idea to leave early in the morning or when the sun sets. The bulk of the traffic will happen at midday.