WACO, Texas — In the U.S. more than 54 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. This is the highest number since 2005.
The Waco Regional Airport is expecting more passengers to fly out this Thanksgiving week than last year.
Director of aviation with the city of Waco, Joel Martinez said this is one of their busiest weeks of the year.
"We do see an influx in passengers flying out this time of year. We do see a lot of Baylor students traveling also," Martinez said. "This is a busy time for us and we anticipate that to be the same this week."
About 1,100 passengers are expected to fly out of the Waco Regional Airport on Thanksgiving week, which is about 125 more than in 2017. Martinez said this estimate is based on tickets that have been purchased for Saturday through Friday.
Martinez said they can expect more passengers due to last-minute flyers.
At the Waco Airport, travelers like Janie Lehrmann from Axtell said they are traveling to spend time with family for the holidays.
"We're going to Chicago," Lehrmann said. "We have twin grandsons that are 3 years old and we're gonna spend Thanksgiving with them."
Vladimy Jean Louis, who is traveling back home to New York City, said the holidays are the perfect time to take some time off.
"You know we're so spread out and the holidays are probably the smallest time we have to be with our family between Christmas and Thanksgiving," Jean Louis said.
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