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Philadelphia International Airport was full of good cheer as travelers greeted loved ones while others made their way to flights for the Christmas season.
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA – As Christmas travel commences, it’s expected to be another record-breaking holiday travel season.
AAA predicts more than 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Saturday and New Year’s Day, which would top a holiday-season high set in 2019. The two weekends on either side of Christmas look to be some of the most crowded times on the road and at airports.
At Philadelphia International Airport Friday, there were big smiles, hearty hugs and family reunions where the joyful homecomings are often the best present of all.
For newly enlisted Airman First Class Victoria White and Myra Cardona, it's an extra special Christmas. The Air Force colleagues were arriving home for the first time since leaving for boot camp back in July.
Cardona was planning to surprise her parents, who had no idea she was coming.
"They kind of think I’m not going to be home for the holidays or Christmas this year so it’s going to be super. It’s exciting," said Cardona.
The joyful screams of "MOMMY!!" bellowed through the baggage claim at Terminal C. It was the first time in six months 2-year-old Xavier and 3-year-old Adrianne have seen or hugged their mom. For her husband, Domierre, a former military man himself, said having his wife home makes Christmas that much special.
"It’s been 12-hour night shifts. I’m a 911 dispatcher. 12-hour shifts. Coming home. Waking up to the kids," said Domierre.
"I didn’t get to spend their birthdays with them. I didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with them. Like, this is the first time I’ve ever been away from all of them, so this year truly hits different," added Victoria.
After a record Thanksgiving travel season, travelers are ready to go at it again. Airlines expect to have their busiest days Friday and Sunday, and on December 26, 27 and 29. Flight traffic is expected to be light on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
"We are looking at 1.36 million people traveling to or from PHL" said Heather Redfern, spokesperson for Philadelphia International Airport.
At Philly International, officials are expecting another holiday crush over the next 16 days. American Airlines alone expects to carry a half million passengers on 5,000 flights, proving people are going far and wide to see their loved ones for the holidays.
"People are back traveling. They are traveling on the roads, they are traveling by train, and in the sky and that’s been the case for all of the holiday period," said Redfern.
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