AAA projects 3.66 million flyers

AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period, with 3.66 million projected to fly domestically. The travel group said the air figure is up 0.3% from last year and is part of a record domestic Memorial Day forecast. AAA also said 39.1 million people are expected to drive, keeping highways as the main pressure point for the long weekend. In Orlando, airport officials are preparing for one of the busiest stretches of the year as the city ranks first among domestic destinations in AAA booking data. ### How big is the flying forecast this year? AAA said in a May 2026 forecast that 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly to their destinations over Memorial Day weekend. The group said that is a slight increase from 2025 and part of a broader record for domestic holiday travel. AAA also said average round-trip domestic airfares were 6% lower than a year earlier for travelers who booked early. (newsroom.aaa.com) Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the group’s release that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and gives many Americans a three-day window for a trip. AAA’s forecast covers travel from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. ### Why is Orlando showing up so prominently? (newsroom.aaa.com) Yahoo cited AAA booking data showing Orlando as the top domestic destination for Memorial Day weekend. That puts the country’s largest theme-park market at the center of one of the heaviest U.S. leisure travel periods of the year. (newsroom.aaa.com) Orlando International Airport said more than 900,000 passengers are expected during the holiday travel period, and an AOL report put the figure at about 900,000, including roughly 902,000 travelers moving through MCO. The airport’s expected volume aligns with AAA’s booking data showing Orlando at the top of the domestic list. (giantswire.usatoday.com) ### When are the roads expected to be worst? AAA said 39.1 million travelers will drive over the holiday weekend, far outnumbering flyers. Yahoo, citing AAA guidance, said Monday is expected to be congested for drivers for most of the day. AAA separately said the heaviest traffic is expected on May 21 and May 22 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with another busy period on the afternoon of May 25. (aol.com) ABC News reported that American Airlines expected Friday, May 22, to be its busiest travel day of the holiday stretch. That points to pressure on both roads and airports as travelers return on overlapping schedules. ### What can travelers at Orlando International do before they arrive? Orlando International says travelers can use MCO Reserve to book a Transportation Security Administration screening appointment before arriving at the airport. (newsroom.aaa.com) The airport allows those reservations as far as seven days in advance, with appointment windows available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the AOL report. (abcnews.com) MCO’s holiday guidance also points travelers to checkpoint wait-time tools and early arrival planning as passenger counts rise. For travelers leaving later in the weekend, the next concrete step is the reservation window itself: MCO Reserve appointments remain available up to seven days ahead for eligible departing passengers. (aol.com)