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Fewer People Expected To Travel Over Thanksgiving

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By RUSSELL RAY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2008

TAMPA - Gas prices have dropped below $2 a gallon at many locations throughout Florida, but that doesn't mean more people will be filling up the family car to go to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving.

Despite lower fuel prices, fewer people are expected to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend compared with last year, AAA reported today. The sour economy is stopping consumers from taking advantage of the lower fuel prices, the auto club said.

About 41 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during next week's holiday weekend, down 1.4 percent from last year, according to a survey of more than 2,000 people.

AAA estimates 33.2 million people will travel by automobile, down 1.2 percent from 33.6 million last year.

At this time last year, a gallon of regular unleaded was averaging $3.11 in the Tampa Bay area. Today, the same grade of fuel is averaging $2.06, a decline of 34 percent.

A bigger decrease was projected for air travel.

About 4.54 million people are expected to travel by plane, down 7.2 percent from the 4.89 million people who flew last year. Airfares are about 8 percent higher than last year, AAA said.

In Florida, 2.15 million people are expected to travel via automobile and more than 278,000 are projected to go by plane.

Reporter Russell Ray can be reached at (813) 259-7870.

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