45 Million Americans Expected to Travel for Memorial Day Weekend

AAA projects that 45 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. 1 million are expected to drive. Airlines and airports are operating with reduced spare capacity. A 90-minute delay that once could be absorbed now often leads to cancellations.

Travelers are booking shorter domestic trips more often than in prior years. Enterprise Mobility data shows 47 percent of summer travelers plan more short getaways than last year. PwC reports the average Memorial Day weekend trip costs $898 per traveler. Faye Travel Insurance data shows the average insured summer trip costs $6,773, an 18 percent increase from last year.

Airlines ceased operations earlier this month.

U.S. domestic market share before closing. Andres Celis of DMI Aviation Sales said delays often begin in maintenance and parts supply rather than at the gate. He described current conditions as a period of "tight tolerance" with little margin for error.

Kyle McMahon of Valvoline Instant Oil Change said more than 62 percent of drivers experienced cold-weather breakdowns last winter. Common issues include low tire pressure and degraded engine oil.