(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
By Brian Brant
(MIAMI) Miami International Aiport reported Wednesday was one of the busiest travel days since the start of the pandemic with more than 80,000 passengers flying, according to CBS 4.
A spokesperson also said that Sunday marked one of the busiest days since March with over 81,000 passengers in a single day.
Memorial Health Care epidemiologist Rachel Guran said she would advise people to think twice before traveling.
“Stay home with your immediate household family,” Guran said.
However, while the number of Christmas Eve travelers at MIA is down 50% from last year, airport officials said it is usally the slowest air travel day of the holiday season.
“It’s about what I expected,” said traveler Ethan Bauer who was headed home to Boston from Miami. “The holidays are a busy time to travel and there’s always a lot of people. So I think regardless if it’s COVID or not, there’s going to be a lot of people out.”
While AAA said it expects 34 million fewer travelers compared to this time last year, the motor club federation said it expects between December 23 and January 3 more than 84 million people will hit the road or the skies.