ATLANTA (AP) - More than 1.3 million Georgians are expected to travel on state highways and use the world’s busiest airport through Sunday for Thanksgiving, and officials say they’re prepared for the rush with extra staff to monitor roads and help people move through security lines.
Nationally, travel volume is expected to be at its highest level since 2007, and low gas prices are part of the reason, according to AAA, which also gave the prediction for Georgia.
The majority of Georgia travelers will be behind the wheel instead of at an airport, AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. With fuel prices are at a five-year low for the holiday, “that translates to more money for transport, dining, shopping,” Jenkins said.
Matt Megargee, 23, had a full car of passengers when he pulled over to fill up for gas at a station in northeast Atlanta on Wednesday morning. The Calhoun, Ga., native said he hoped to make it to Chattanooga within a few hours to see his 9-year-old goddaughter, who is being treated at the Ronald McDonald House, after a full day on the road to pick up her brothers as far away as Maryland.
Megargee said he was tired but the trip went smoothly, with only one traffic jam “somewhere in Virginia.” Low gas prices made the cost a bit easier, he said, though he laughed over some sticker shock in Atlanta.
“It’s tough to plan where you might want to stop and refuel,” he said. “This ($2.97) is the highest I’ve seen the whole trip.”
Plenty of people also will be using Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta. About 65,000 travelers are expected to depart or arrive on Wednesday alone, spokesman Reese McCranie said. The entire holiday travel period, from Tuesday to Sunday, is expected to include more than 500,000 passengers, he said.
Airport officials work with security agencies to keep lines moving and station staff throughout the airport to help people who don’t fly often or haven’t used Atlanta’s airport before, he said.
No significant delays or cancellations were reported, but airport officials were keeping an eye on storm conditions in the northeastern U.S. and advising passengers to check with their airlines, McCranie said.
“We know there is typically a cascading effect, so there’s a chance it could affect operations here if people aren’t able to fly into other cities,” he said.
Law enforcement officials are planning to be out in force as the roadways grow crowded. Georgia State Patrol Capt. Mark Perry said Thanksgiving is a “huge holiday” for the department with at least 50 percent of the workforce on Georgia roads from Wednesday through Sunday. Those numbers go up on Wednesday and Sunday, the busiest travel days.
Officers will be looking for violations that often contribute to fatal crashes, including speed, failure to use a seat belt and alcohol, Perry said.
“Always keep in mind this is the heaviest travel period of the year, so you should allow for plenty of time to get to your destination, don’t drive impaired, and please buckle up,” he said.
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