Dozens of delayed flights at RDU for post-Christmas travel rush
On Wednesday at Raleigh-Durham International Airport there were at least 21 delays as people travel home after Christmas. Three flights were canceled.
It's a slight improvement from Tuesday, when 98 delays were reported at RDU as people traveled home after holiday gatherings.
Airports across the country will be busy the days after Christmas. While the weather was clear in Raleig apart from some rain, a winter storm is impacting flights to and from the Midwest. Track flights anywhere here.
Conditions at RDU fluctuated on Tuesday morning. At 6 a.m., long lines were forming at RDU's security checkpoint, but there were only two cancelations and two delays at RDU.
RDU dealt with a brief power outage at one point, but interruptions were minimal.
Last week, RDU projected that Christmas Eve would be the busiest travel day, estimating 54,000 people would travel through the airport on Dec. 24.
More than 403,000 people are expected to travel through the TSA security checkpoints at RDU between Dec. 15 and Jan. 2, 2024, with a total of approximately 806,000 passengers flying over the 19-day winter holiday period.
Hitting the roads?
If you’re driving back home on Tuesday from your Christmas vacation, know a lot of people will be on the roads.
AAA estimates there will be 2.5 million more drivers this holiday season compared to last.
According to AAA, the busiest time to be on the roads Tuesday will between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and again on Saturday. That means it's best to hit the roads first thing in the morning, unless you plan to drive at night.
There is some good news for drivers -- gas prices are low right now. New data released Wednesday from AAA shows the average price of gas is $2.94 in North Carolina.
That’s about the same as last week, but a few cents lower than last month.
How to save gas
AAA recommends drivers turn off their cars if they will be stopped for more than 60 seconds and if it is safe to do so, which could include waiting at a stoplight, in a carpool line or at a drive-thru. Many newer cars have automatic engine stop-start systems that turn off after a minute.
For every 15 minutes of idling, you can burn a quarter gallon of gas, AAA said, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. If you're sitting in the carpool for 30 minutes, that's a half a gallon.
Instead of waiting at a drive-thru, park and go inside the restaurant to order, experts recommend.
Other gas conservation tips from the pros include carpooling, removing excess weight from your vehicle, ensuring its tires are properly maintained, following the speed limit and avoiding aggressive driving, like accelerating and stopping quickly.
