As the summer draws to a close, the upcoming Labor Day weekend is anticipated to be one of the busiest travel periods on record, with significant increases in car, boat, and air travel, as well as crowded parks, beaches, and entertainment venues.
According to AAA, domestic travel bookings for the holiday weekend are up 9% compared to last year. However, international travel is experiencing a decline of approximately 4%, which may be attributed to a 11% increase in international travel costs.
Travelers departing from the Bay Area’s major airports—San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), and Oakland International Airport (OAK)—should prepare for heavy traffic.
Doug Yakel, spokesperson for SFO, the busiest airport in the region, reported that from Thursday through Tuesday, more than 930,000 passengers are expected to transit through the airport. This figure represents an 8.7% increase over last Labor Day and approximately 97% of pre-pandemic passenger levels for the same period.
In the South Bay, SJC anticipates that 77% of available airline seats will be occupied over a nine-day period starting Thursday. The airport predicts Friday will be the peak travel day, with over 22,000 passengers expected to depart.
OAK is also preparing for a bustling weekend, with over 200,000 passengers projected to pass through the airport between Thursday and the following Tuesday. The busiest travel days are anticipated to be Friday and Tuesday, according to airport officials.
For those hitting the road, gas prices are lower this year compared to last, which AAA spokesperson John Treanor attributes to an increase in holiday travel. While AAA has not provided specific projections for holiday weekend travel, the overall trend suggests a busier period than in previous years.
In 2023, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas over Labor Day weekend was $3.81. This year, the average has decreased to $3.36. However, in California and particularly the Bay Area, prices remain higher, with the average cost for a gallon of regular gas at $4.62 as of Wednesday.
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