Record travel volumes expected as people head to holiday destinations

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Tucson International Airport is bracing for a surge in holiday travelers, with nearly 260,000 passengers expected to pass through its terminals amid record-breaking national travel predictions in the coming weeks.

The airport anticipates serving approximately 13,600 passengers daily between December 18, 2024, and January 5, 2025, a 6% increase from the previous year. The peak travel day is expected to be December 29, with an estimated 16,000 travelers in one day. Winter weather is something travelers should prepare for as they catch flights and hit the roads, especially when heading east from Arizona.

“Chicago, New York, Florida, Southern California — those are our busiest routes out of the Tucson International Airport,” said Austin Wright, Tucson Airport Authority Chief Communications Officer. “From coast to coast, there tends to be weather, especially around the holidays, as winter weather hits a large part of the country.”

AAA projects 119.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the year-end holiday period from December 21 to January 1, setting a new record. In Arizona alone, more than 2.3 million residents are expected to travel, a 2% increase from last year.

Road travel continues to be the dominant mode of transportation, with 107 million Americans planning to drive to their destinations. Arizonans will make up about 2 million drivers in that total.

Julian Paredes, AAA spokesperson, suggests holiday traffic might be more manageable than during Thanksgiving. “It’s gonna be more people, but Thanksgiving is much more condensed because you’re talking about maybe two or three days people will be traveling. This one’s gonna be a little bit more spread out.”

Airport officials advise travelers to arrive early and monitor their flight status, particularly given potential weather-related delays in other parts of the country.

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