BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Millions of people are expected to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday week and air travel is expected to hit a new record.

On Wednesday morning, officials at the Burlington airport said there had been a steady flow of inbound and outbound travelers. According to initial estimates, almost 2,500 travelers flew out of Burlington International Airport on Wednesday.

By lunchtime, all return flights were on time and airport officials said everything was running smoothly.

However, they recommended that air travelers arrive early. While the average time through security is about five to seven minutes, they said people departing Wednesday should arrive at least two hours early.

Nationwide, the TSA expects to screen the most people Wednesday through Sunday, with Sunday expected to set a new record of about 3 million people.

For those traveling by car, authorities want to ensure they stay safe this holiday season. A record 72 million people are expected to travel for the holidays and Wednesday is one of the busiest travel days.

According to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, 326 people died in traffic accidents over Thanksgiving weekend in 2022. Of these, 43% were not wearing a seatbelt.

Starting Wednesday, law enforcement will launch its “Buckle Up” enforcement campaign to educate Vermonters about the importance of seat belt use.

The partnership between the Department of Transportation and state law enforcement runs through Dec. 1.

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