Travelers contended with big crowds and flight delays Friday, which was expected to be the busiest day of the Memorial Day weekend.
More than 6,000 U.S. flights were delayed by early evening on the East Coast, continuing a trend that has tested the patience of travelers all week. Cancellations were more modest, at slightly more than 200, according to tracking data from FlightAware.
Travelers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport on Friday in Salt Lake City.
There were delays on the highways, too.
Along Florida’s Turnpike, Wallis Tinnie said a traffic accident and road work slowed her drive to an African American history commemoration in the Florida Panhandle, the site in 1816 of the first battle of the Seminole Wars.
“But we’re comfortable with it,” the Miami woman said during a stop at Port Saint Lucie. “We left early, and our event is tomorrow. So hopefully — God willing, creek don’t rise — we’ll be there in plenty of time.”
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The Transportation Security Administration predicted that Friday would be the busiest day of the holiday weekend for air travel, with nearly 3 million people expected to pass through airport checkpoints. TSA screened just under 2.9 million people Thursday, coming within about 11,000 of breaking the record set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year.
“Airports are going to be more packed than we have seen in 20 years,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said.
Traffic moves along Interstate 405 on Thursday in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles.
