Holiday travel rush continues at Newark Liberty International Airport
NEWARK, N.J. -- Local airports were filled with passengers again Friday, which the TSA expected to be one of the busiest days of the holiday travel season.
Spirits were high, and the lines were short at Terminal B at Newark Liberty Airport. Travelers were prepared for the worst, but for the most part made out okay.
"One of the busiest days of the year, got to get here a couple hours early. But, as it seems, I think I might have gotten here a little too early. Keep our fingers crossed it'll stay that way," traveler Quinten Castillo said.
Castillo was headed to South Florida to meet up with family.
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"Have a good, happy, merry Christmas. Hit the beach a little, and escape the Jersey cold for a little bit," Castillo said.
Flight delays were way down this year compared to last, but passenger volume was up. Airports were expected to be the busiest they've ever been over the holiday season, with about 7.5 million people catching a flight to make it to their destination, according to TSA.
More than 100 million people will drive to their holiday destinations this year. Drivers are prepared for some traffic.
"The roads are pretty good. Route 22, a little bit of traffic. But so far the Parkway is smooth. But it's typical. It's the holiday season," driver Nadia Silvera said.
Gas prices are about the same as they were last year. Drivers can expect to pay a little over $3t a gallon on average.
Rachel Peace and her 3-year-old son Cayson were heading from Monmouth County, N.J. to upstate New York for some holiday cheer.
"It's a beautiful day. And we're looking forward to the holiday season. Merry Christmas, everyone," Peace said.
CBS New York's John Dias spent the morning at Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B.
"I feel excited. For me, it's a very exciting time, because it's holiday. I know it might be very stressful for dealing with traveling and wait time, but still I feel very good," traveler Ibrahim Diallo told Dias.
"I have to wake up extra early, so stressful, but I still feel happy," another traveler added.
By noon, CBS New York's Nick Caloway reported the line was almost nonexistent.
"Looks kind of slow, honestly," traveler Jose Fermin said. "We got lucky. I didn't want to be in too much of a dilemma here in the airport."
"Looks pretty empty. I'm very surprised about that actually," another traveler added. "Hopefully, no problems traveling. So looking nice, looking nice."
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The 10-day holiday stretch is expected to be another record-breaking one, with this year's total domestic travel up more than 2%. So far, things have been looking good for travelers, with cancelations way down from this time last year.
The TSA forecasts Friday and New Year's Day will be the busiest remaining travel days this holiday season, expecting to screen 2.5 million passengers each day.
The agency says travelers should arrive at security checkpoints two hours before their departure.
In total, AAA says 115 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday season.