Airports expect record number of flights as Thanksgiving approaches

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Passengers are rolling into airports across the country this week as Thanksgiving nears.  

AAA projects nearly 80 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles over the next seven days, with 5.8 million expected to take to the skies. 

Travelers heading out on Wednesday could encounter delays or cancellations in parts of the west, and from the Ohio valley to the northeast later in the day.  

For Wilmington resident Karen Vogel, the journey to visit her daughter and in-laws in Westport, Massachusetts will involve multiple modes of transportation.  

“We fly directly to Philadelphia, and then we Uber to my daughters school and drive her car to Westport. So it’s going to be planes, trains, and automobiles,” Vogel said. 

The TSA expects to screen 18.3 million people this week, with Wednesday and Sunday being the busiest for air travel.  

That travel rush isn’t limited to families. Tuesday was also a busy day for service members. 

Private First Class Peter Larvai recently graduated from boot camp and will be spending thanksgiving with his platoon at Camp Lejune.  

“Me personally I’m coming from Pennsylvania, flew out here at 8 a.m. We’re coming here for MCT, Marine Corps Combat Training,” Larvai said. 

Despite the crowds, some travelers coming from New York reported smoother than expected flights. 

“Even LaGuardia wasn’t bad, it was fast. Faster than sometimes,” Barbara Tina said. 

“It wasn’t bad at all. We got there early enough in the morning, we took off on time. A little turbulence but we’re here,” Lisa Broderick added. 

Many of the travelers we spoke with, like Mary Lou Lavocat, said they prefer the shorter lines at ILM.  

“New York is too big. I like this, it’s more like Buffalo but I am going back in a week,” Lavocat said.