Experts predict record travel on Memorial Day weekend
Quite a few flights are leaving out of Tweed Friday morning to Florida, the Carolinas, Texas, all over.
More than 3.5 million Americans are expected to fly, a 2% increase from last year. And more than 39 million will travel by car, about a million more than last year.
Connecticut State Police stepping up patrols for Memorial Day weekend
And for many, the weather is not cooperating.
Heavy rain is expected Friday along the Interstate 95 corridor in the northeast, along with wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour and snow possible in northern New England.
In New Haven, flights seem to be on time and operating smoothly…
But flights at the Austin, Texas, airport were grounded yesterday because of more air traffic controller staffing issues.
At busy Newark Airport, outside New York, the FAA is now extending limits on flights after multiple air traffic-control system outages, which were blamed on low staffing and outdated communications systems.
Other recent outages were reported from Denver to Houston.
The CEOs of 10 major airlines sent a letter to Congress Thursday, pushing for immediate action, saying that they need 'serious upgrades need to happen now.'
'Most Americans today walk around with more computing power in their pocket than air traffic controllers have at the ready,' Nick Daniels with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said.
Analysts say fewer people are traveling abroad this year, so get ready for bigger crowds if you're hitting tourist sites here at home this summer, like national parks.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
U.S. drops to lowest ranking yet on index of most powerful passports
The U.S. has dropped to its lowest ranking yet on the index that tracks the most powerful passports among countries, according to a new quarterly report released this week. The Henley Passport Index, which was formed by London-based consulting firm Henley & Partners, revealed in a Tuesday update that the U.S. has gone down by one spot in the world rankings, and now has the 10th most powerful passport worldwide. The report is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association. The U.S. was first on the list in 2014. The U.S. passport allows Americans to enter 182 countries without a visa. Tied with the U.S. are Lithuania and Iceland. 'The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy. Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts,' said Christian H. Kaelinm, the inventor of the passport index concept. Singapore is still in first place, allowing its citizens visa-free access to 193 destination spots. South Korea and Japan share second place, granting 190 visa-free destinations to their citizens. Seven European Union (EU) countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — are in the third spot. Seven other EU nations — Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden — are in fourth place, while Greece, Switzerland and New Zealand are tied in fifth place, according to the report. Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list with allowing visa-free access to 25 destinations. 'While international passport rankings may vary based on methodology, our focus remains on facilitating secure, efficient, and reciprocal travel for American citizens and foreign nationals alike,' a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump to land in Scotland on Friday for start of five-day private trip
Donald Trump will land in Scotland later on Friday as he begins his five-day private trip to the country. The US president is expected to arrive at Prestwick Airport in the evening, before heading over to his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. He is then expected to head over to his Menie golf course in Aberdeenshire before opening up a new course dedicated to his Scottish mother, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis. He will leave the country at some point on Tuesday. His presence will result in a significant operation from Police Scotland and thousands of officers, who are expected to deal with mass protests around his golf courses and major Scottish cities. Mr Trump will be greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray when he lands, with the minister pledging to give the American leader a 'warm welcome'. He will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his stay when the pair will discuss the UK-US trade deal. The US president will also meet with First Minister John Swinney. The SNP leader previously said he would have the opportunity to raise various issues with Mr Trump, including tariffs, Gaza and Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Mr Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides Scotland with an opportunity to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice for all, while also promoting Scotland's tourism sector and economic investment potential. He said: 'Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries. 'That partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links – including of course, with the President himself. 'As we welcome the President of the United States, Scotland will be showcased on the world stage. 'This provides Scotland with a platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter, including war and peace, justice and democracy. 'It also includes the millions of Americans – many of them potential future tourists or investors in Scotland – who will watch their elected President as he visits our country. 'As First Minister it is my responsibility to advance our interests, raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza, and ensure Scotland's voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world. 'That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.' The SNP leader said Scotland is a 'proud democratic nation' that 'stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world'. Ahead of protests expected around Scotland, he said people had a right to 'peaceful demonstration', adding that 'everyone has the democratic right to protect and express their views in a peaceful, and democratic manner'. 'That is right and proper,' he added. 'I am confident the vast majority of people protesting will do Scotland proud and demonstrate as they should – peacefully and lawfully. 'I am also confident that Scotland's police service can handle the challenge of keeping all our communities safe and, as they must, in maintaining the appropriate security any US President requires. 'This weekend is a landmark moment in our relationship with the United States, and I am certain it will be remembered for Scotland showing the world the very best of itself.'


NBC News
6 hours ago
- NBC News
'Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday.' Except maybe viral fame.
The sound of the summer is actually not a song — it's an ad. 'Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday,' a catchphrase from the British airline's 2024 ad, mixed with English singer Jess Glynne's 2015 hit 'Hold My Hand,' has been used by more than 1.2 million users on TikTok, where it's become a viral hit in recent months. Searches for Jet2 holiday have also spiked in the last month, according to Google trends. The original Jet2 ad, which first appeared on the company's YouTube page last year, shows a family of four as they catch a Jet2 plane to their beachside summer vacation. Now, audio from the ad is being used more ironically in videos from users who juxtapose the soundbite with footage of chaotic holiday experiences. From catastrophic weather at picture-perfect resorts to passengers misbehaving on flights, the videos often document travel-related setbacks. No one was more surprised by the popularity of the ad than British actor Zoë Lister, the voice behind the viral audio. She recorded the ad about 18 months ago. 'Somebody sent me a video yesterday of Joe Jonas using the sound,' she told NBC News in a recent video interview. 'I was like, 'Oh, that's massive!'' Lister, who introduced herself as the actor behind the audio in a recent TikTok video, said it's been especially interesting to see the soundbite pick up in the United States, where Americans use the word 'vacation' rather than 'holiday.' 'They don't even know what Jet2 holiday is,' she joked. 'They don't have holidays, they have vacations. Holidays are like Christmas, right? But they have got so on board with the joyful silliness of it.' 'Going viral for something just that is really funny and joyful … that's quite a wonderful experience,' Lister added. One of the first videos to use the audio and garner millions of views was from a user who uploaded footage of what appears to be a camel attacking the person, according to meme database KnowYourMeme. Since being posted on TikTok in November 2024, the video has amassed 3.8 million views. Jet2 picked up on the popularity of the audio in the spring, posting a video on TikTok offering a giveaway for people who uploaded videos partaking in the trend. The travel company is known in the United Kingdom for offering low-cost vacations for British travelers, and providing charter flights to popular holiday destinations around the world, mostly in Europe. As for Glynne, Lister said the pop star also 'did not ask for any of this' fame. The singer's 'Darling, hold my hand' line from her song is now associated with the Jet2 phrase. The two met during a Capital FM radio appearance in London on Tuesday, which Lister described as a 'wild' moment in her life. She's 'a super cool mega pop star and I'm this like cheeseball,' Lister said. Lister, a mother of two, said she's trying to figure out how to navigate the newfound fame. She was a familiar face to many in the U.K.: From 2006-2017, she played Zoe Carpenter in the popular teen soap opera 'Hollyoaks,' which aired on Channel 4. But the virality has boosted her profile more, especially after she posted the TikTok video. 'What started happening this last week, which has been really bizarre, is when I've been on a train or in a cafe and I can hear people watching [the meme],' she said. 'And, last Friday I was out with my husband, because we were celebrating our anniversary. And the girls on the next table were literally recording their own 'nothing beat the Jet2 holiday' into their phone.' Her husband then asked the group recording the video if they would want to meet the 'the woman that does the voice.' 'It was actually such a brilliant, fun, joyful moment,' Lister said. 'And everyone was like excited. And we have photos. It was really fun.' She's hoping the virality will help her expand her horizons professionally. 'I've been planning a podcast for a while and I'm happy that now I've got more of a platform in which to launch something like that,' she said. 'I've got lots of things that I'd like to do creatively and I hope that this sort of infamy will help launch things.'