The American Automobile Association expects fewer Americans to travel during the July 4 holiday weekend this year, though the number hopping on airplanes is expected to rise.

AAA forecasts that 37.1 million Americans will take a trip of 50 miles or longer during the weekend, which is typically the busiest time of the year for auto travel. That’s down 1.9 percent from the 37.8 million who traveled during the same period last year, AAA says, citing research by IHS Global Insight. And it’s a 12.3 percent decline from 42.3 million travelers in 2007.

The air-travel industry is expected to see a 4.9 percent increase in bookings for the weekend this year. But air travel will account for only 5 percent of July 4 leisure travel, AAA says.

AAA projects a 2.6 percent decline in auto trips, dropping to 32.6 million from 33.4 million last year.

The organization says rising gasoline prices are influencing travel patterns, as are plummeting airfares.

The lowest average published airfares over the Independence Day weekend are expected to be down 16 percent from last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.

Triangle Business Journal