Travel is Up as More Americans Plan to Take a Trip This Thanksgiving

CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) ­­ Airports will be busy over the Thanksgiving holiday with 61 percent of travelers planning to take a trip, up six percent from 2014. (1) Los Angeles International (LAX) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD) will be the busiest airports for the third consecutive year based on the Orbitz® Insider Index, which analyzed the Orbitz.com® flight booking data of the top 50 U.S. airports over the Thanksgiving travel period (Nov. 25 – 30, 2015). Newcomers to this year’s busiest airport list are Denver International (DEN), Orlando International (MCO), Dallas­Fort Worth International (DFW), and Hartsfield­-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL).

“With travel expected to be up six percent, those heading to airports this Thanksgiving will need to build in extra time to account for bigger crowds and longer lines,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, senior editor of Orbitz.com. “As expected, Wednesday, Nov. 25 and Sunday, Nov. 29 will be the busiest of the weekend. Travelers looking to avoid the crowds should consider flying out on Thanksgiving day and coming back on Monday, Nov. 30, both the least busy of the holiday weekend.”

Orbitz also provides a list of the least busy airports. This year’s list is split down the middle with five airports making the list for the second year in a row and five newcomers. Travelers flying in to Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Omaha, Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui or Mineta San Jose International (SJC) can expect minimal stress and shorter lines as they are the least busy for Thanksgiving weekend.

ORBITZ INSIDER INDEX: BUSIEST AND LEAST BUSY AIRPORTS FOR THANKSGIVING 2015

Orbitz.com Busiest Airports 2015

Orbitz.com Least Busy Airports 2015

NOT­-TO­-MISS HIDDEN GEMS AT THE BUSIEST U.S. AIRPORTSIn the 2015 Orbitz holiday survey, most travelers said they were dreading the long lines and wait times at airports. However, nearly 55 percent indicated they would allow themselves more time at the airport if they knew of interesting things to see and do during the wait.Orbitz.com editors have rounded up hidden gems for travelers waiting in the busiest airports this Thanksgiving. For more hidden gems at busy U.S. airports visit the Orbitz blog.

Los Angeles International (LAX): LAX PUPS
Travelers passing through LAX and missing their pets at home should keep an eye out for LAX PUPS (Pets Un-stressing
Passengers). LAX’s therapy­-dog program provides relief to the stress of travel. These dog de­-stressors can be found at gates throughout the terminals and both dogs and handlers can easily be spotted by their red vests.

Chicago O’Hare International (ORD): Kids Zone and Staying ActiveFor those traveling with children, the Kids on the Fly interactive play area in Terminal 2 brings the airport to life with child­-sized model airplanes and a control tower that will keep the little ones busy for hours. For parents looking to stay active, consider purchasing day access to the Hilton Athletic Club inside the Hilton at Chicago O’Hare, accessible by underground walkway and the Airport Transit System.

San Francisco International (SFO): The Yoga RoomTo take relaxation to the next level, look no further than the Yoga Room in Terminal 2 at SFO. The room provides complimentary mats and pillows to allow travelers to unleash their inner chill instead of stressing about busy airports and holiday crowds. Travelers who are not yoga enthusiasts can take advantage of spa offerings in each of the terminals, just steps away from passenger boarding gates.(1) The Orbitz holiday survey was fielded by Orbitz from Sept. 21 – 23, 2015 via HawkPartners. 800 U.S. adults aged 18 and older who had who planned to travel over the holiday were surveyed.(2) Busiest airports data based on all Orbitz.com air ticket bookings (standalone and as part of a package) to the top 50 airports with arrivals and departures between Nov. 25 – 30, 2015.(3) Least busy airports data based on all Orbitz.com air ticket bookings (standalone and as part of a package) to the top 50 airports with arrivals and departures between Nov. 25 – 30, 2015.

About Orbitz.comOrbitz.com is a leading travel website where millions of consumers search for and book a broad range of hotels, flights, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages and destination activities. Orbitz.com now offers the groundbreaking Orbitz Rewards loyalty program—the only program where customers can earn rewards immediately on flights, hotels and packages, and redeem instantly on tens of thousands of hotels worldwide. Use the Orbitz Rewards Visa® Card to earn even more rewards. Orbitz.com is the #1 way to book travel on mobile devices, be it using our apps (get them at orbitz.com/mobile) or our smartphone­-optimized website (m.orbitz.com), both of which are tailored for smartphones and tablets. The Orbitz app won the 2014 Appy Award for best travel app. Orbitz also ranks #1 in Online Travel Website Customer Satisfaction in the 2014 American Customer Satisfaction Index. Follow Orbitz on Facebook, Twitter and through the Orbitz Travel Blog. Orbitz.com is owned by Expedia, Inc., one of the world’s leading travel companies.©2015 Orbitz, LLC. All rights reserved. Orbitz, Orbitz.com, and the Orbitz logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Orbitz, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners. CST# 2063530­50; Hawaii TAR­6881; Iowa 644; Washington 602­108­724Media Contact: Marita Hudson Thomas, +1‐312‐260‐8304, marita.thomas@orbitz.comOrbitz Worldwide Inc.”Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Orbitz Worldwide Inc.’s business which are not historical facts are “forward­-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward­-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report or Form 10­K for the most recently ended fiscal year.

Rank Airport Name Location/Market Airport Code
1 Los Angeles International Los Angeles, Calif. LAX
2 Chicago O’Hare International Chicago, Ill. ORD
3 San Francisco International San Francisco, Calif. SFO
4 Denver International Denver, Colo. DEN
5 Boston Logan International Boston, Mass. BOS
6 John F. Kennedy International New York, N.Y. JFK
7 Orlando International Orlando, Fla. MCO
8 Newark Liberty International Newark, N.J. EWR
9 Dallas­-Fort Worth International Dallas, Texas DFW
10 Hartsfield­-Jackson Atlanta International Atlanta, Ga. ATL
Rank Airport Name Location/Market Airport Code
2 Kahului Airport Maui, Hawaii OGG
3 Mineta San Jose International San Jose, Calif. SJC
4
5
6 Nashville International Nashville, Tenn. BNA
7 General Mitchell International Milwaukee, Wis. MKE
8
9 Port Columbus International Columbus, Ohio CMH
10 Cincinnati­Northern Kentucky International Cincinnati, Ohio CVG