Record crowds expected at airports over Labor Day travel period

Experts expect this Labor Day travel period to be another record-setter.

An estimated 17.5 million passengers will take to the air aboard U.S. airlines during the weeklong Labor Day travel period, according to a projection by airline industry organization Airlines for America.

A news release from the group reports that the passenger volume expected from Wednesday, Aug. 28, through Tuesday, Sept. 3, represents a 4% increase from the 16.9 million passengers estimated to have flown during the same holiday period last year.

The group expects U.S. airlines to carry an average of 2.51 million passengers per day during the travel period, with Friday expected to be the busiest, at 2.98 million passengers, followed by Thursday with 2.82 million. Labor Day itself is expected to see 2.71 million passengers.

“With fares at historic lows and customer satisfaction at historic highs, travelers continue to take to the skies in record numbers,” said Airlines for America Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich.

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport officials have been “very busy” leading up to the holiday travel period, airport spokesman Albert Waterhouse said.

“While we have seen an increase in local and regional leisure travelers, the airport still primarily serves business passengers. Therefore, we don’t anticipate any dramatic uptick in traffic over the Labor Day holiday weekend,” Waterhouse said. “However, since we are very busy and already up almost 13 percent over last year, we continue to ask that you check your flight status with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport for your departure.”

(Read more: Chattanooga Airport boots early morning flights, travelers told to arrive earlier)

Contributing to the expected increase are low fuel prices. The national gas price average Wednesday was $2.59 a gallon, setting up potentially the cheapest Labor Day weekend average in three years, according to AAA.

Wednesday’s average was a quarter cheaper than last year’s holiday and 4 cents cheaper than 2017’s Labor Day.

“For Americans who book-end summer with road trips, they will find gas prices this coming weekend that are cheaper than this past Memorial Day and last year’s Labor Day holiday,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokeswoman, in a news release. “At the start of the week, two-thirds of all states have gas price averages that are nearly a quarter cheaper than last year.”

While some states may see gas prices increase by a few pennies ahead of the weekend, any jumps will be short term, Casselano said in the release.

Gas prices in the South and Southeast are the cheapest in the nation and have dipped below the $2.25-per-gallon mark in some states, according to AAA.

On Tennessee roadways, officials are halting lane closures on interstates and state highways over the Labor Day weekend.

The state Department of Transportation says it will stop lane closures from noon on Friday through 6 a.m. on Sept. 3 to accommodate the busy holiday travel period.

Workers will still be at many construction sites. Drivers convicted of speeding in work zones with workers present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possible increased insurance premiums.

Tennessee’s new hands-free driving law includes a $200 fine for most cellphone use in a work zone with workers on site.

As for the forecast, weather across the Tennessee Valley is expected to be pleasant through Monday, with only a chance of showers on Sunday, according to WRCB-TV Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys.

Elsewhere, forecasters will be keeping an eye on Hurricane Dorian, which could grow to Category 3 status as it nears the U.S. mainland as early as the weekend, according to the Associated Press.

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