MOLINE, Ill. — With Memorial Day weekend expected to be record-setting for travel, the Quad Cities International Airport is gearing up for a busy holiday.
According to AAA, 42.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, a 7% increase from 2022. They also report this will be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend in the US since 2000.
News 8's Charles Hart spoke with Public Relations and Marketing Manager for the QC Airport Ashleigh Davis who said you should expect your airfare to be higher this year.
"Especially if you look at 2020 2021 we're looking more at you know fees closer to 2019 or even higher," Davis said. "So it's important to be flexible with your travel plans."
"Again, you know, all airports are going to be a little bit busier," Davis said. "But everyone is dealing with staffing shortages, whether it's at the gate, it's at TSA, it's at the restaurants. So just make sure that you leave plenty of time for yourself."
Davis said it's a good rule of thumb to choose strategically choose which days you fly out for any holiday vacation.
According to Hopper, a travel booking website, airports will be packed with some 17 million passengers expected to fly out of US airports this Memorial Day weekend.
AAA said most airlines recommend you show up two hours before your scheduled departure. Other than air travel, AAA says the lightest traffic days this weekend will be Saturday and Sunday. They said the busiest day is projected to be Friday, May 26, 2023.