Millions who will be hitting the road for July Fourth weekend could face long delays at the airport, high prices at the pump, and traffic jams on the highways.
The expected travel headaches reflect challenges in jump-starting parts of the economy that have laid dormant for more than a year due to the pandemic. A larger-than-usual surge of people eager to travel on one of the first holidays after vaccines became widely available could exacerbate those challenges further.
Gas prices have soared in recent weeks due to what experts describe as an explosion in demand and hiccups with supply.
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The national average price per gallon is projected to climb above $3.10 heading into the holiday weekend, the highest prices in seven years.
And the supply-related issues could even cause some gas stations to run dry over the holiday. Industry experts pointed to a shortage in the tank truck drivers needed to transport fuel to the stations as the reason for potential temporary shortages; the advocacy group National Tank Truck Drivers estimates the industry is short 50,000 drivers.
Demand is expected to collide with the high prices and shortages in a significant way over the holiday weekend. According to AAA, more than 47 million people are projected to be traveling for Independence Day, the second-highest level on record.
Renting a car could also cost travelers far more than in previous years, with the daily rate reportedly rising roughly 140% over the 2019 average.
A combination of factors has pushed the price of renting a car upward over the past year. Many rental companies sold off cars from their fleets last year to bring in revenue while people stayed home during the pandemic.
A global semiconductor shortage has also hampered the ability of rental car companies to restock because car production has stalled amid the chip shortage.
Motorists won’t be the only travelers likely to encounter issues.
Airlines have already canceled hundreds of flights leading up to the holiday due to what industry experts describe as staffing shortfalls.
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The ones that remain on the board could experience lengthy delays due to a lack of flight attendants, pilots, and airport workers. Some airlines shed workers through buyouts and other methods during the pandemic, when air travel levels cratered.
Southwest Airlines is attempting to ward off nightmare travel scenarios for the July Fourth weekend by offering enhanced overtime pay for airline employees who work extra shifts, but travelers could still experience long wait times and crowded airports as people take advantage of relaxed restrictions for the holiday.
