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Orbitz Reveals Busiest Airports for Summer's Last Hurrah Over Labor Day Weekend

Posted on: Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 06:00 CDT

CHICAGO, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- As summer comes to a close, U.S. travelers are flocking to airports this Labor Day weekend in search of their last adventure of the summer. Orbitz ( http://www.orbitz.com/ ), the faster, easier way to find the trip you want, today released the latest edition of The Orbitz Insider Index. The ninth edition of the Index gives travelers a preview of the busiest airports for the upcoming weekend and highlights how the list has changed from 2005.

"Labor Day weekend is the last major summer travel weekend and historically one of the season's busiest at airports," said Heather Leisman, director of merchandizing for Orbitz. "Vacationers shouldn't be disappointed that summer is over as there is still plenty of time to book a great trip. As temperatures begin to cool off, many locations enter their "shoulder" or mid- season, a time when destinations are typically less crowded and less expensive."

Labor Day Movers and Shakers

As a leading organization that tracks travel trends, Orbitz examined changes in the busiest airports over Labor Day weekend from 2005 to 2006. As one of the major hubs for connections in country, Chicago is still holding strong as the busiest airport. Los Angeles, which ranked No. 7 last year, jumped up to secure the No. 2 position. San Francisco also moved up five spots from 2005 with a No. 4 ranking this year.

On the international front, Europe is still a hotspot this late in the season and London continues to be the No. 1 destination. Rome and Toronto swapped positions this year giving Europe the top two spots on the list. Two newcomers to the list are Athens, No. 7, and Milan, No. 9, ousting Madrid and Montreal from this year's list. Five of the top 10 international destinations this year hail from Europe.

The Orbitz Labor Day Index

Orbitz.com Busiest Domestic & International Airports over Labor Day Weekend

2006 Domestic* 2005 Ranking Ranking 1 Chicago O'Hare International Airport 1 Chicago, IL 2 Los Angeles International Airport 7 Los Angeles, CA 3 La Guardia New York, NY 8 4 San Francisco International Airport 9 San Francisco, CA 5 Denver International Airport 3 Denver, CO 6 Boston Logan International Airport 6 Boston, MA 7 Sea-Tac International Airport 5 Seattle, WA 8 McCarran International Airport 2 Las Vegas, NV 9 Newark Liberty International Airport 13 Newark, NJ 10 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport 4 Atlanta, GA 2006 International 2005 Ranking Ranking 1 London Heathrow Airport 1 London, Great Britain (UK) 2 Rome Fiumicino Airport 3 Rome, Italy 3 Toronto Lester B Pearson 2 International Airport Toronto, Canada 4 Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle 5 International Airport Paris, France 5 San Juan International Airport 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico 6 Vancouver International Airport 9 Vancouver, Canada 7 Athens International Airport 15 Athens, Greece 8 Cancun International Airport 4 Cancun, Mexico 9 Milan Malpensa Intercontinental Airport 20 Milan, Italy 10 San Jose del Cabo 8 International Airport San Jose Cabo, Mexico * Includes Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands Based on air only ticket sales with an outbound departure date between 9/1/06 and 9/5/06 Based on origin and destination ticket sales excluding connecting traffic Based on net bookings as of 8/13/06 Orbitz Staff Insider Picks

For travelers who have not made Labor Day plans yet, there are still great deals to be had at many outstanding destinations. From the Northeast to the Southwest, the Orbitz Insider Staff has picked some hidden gems with plenty to do this weekend or throughout the fall season.

New England Burlington, VT

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain between the gorgeous Adirondack and Green Mountains, Burlington is a hidden treasure in New England. Perfect for a weekend getaway, travelers can take it easy on Lake Champlain and enjoy the quaint pleasure of quiet cabin life. For those looking to enjoy time on the water, there are a variety of boat companies that offer dinner, lunch or brunch cruises. While boating, be sure to keep an eye out for Champ, the lake's version of the Loch Ness Monster. For travelers seeking an end of summer treat, the Ben and Jerry's Factory is located 30 minutes from Burlington and offers daily tours, areas for picnics and of course, ice cream tasting!

The Poconos, PA

The lush Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania offer 2,400 square miles of wooded peaks and valleys with sparkling lakes, rushing rivers and beautiful waterfalls, all perfect for an end-of-summer outdoor adventure. With 150 lakes, 18 waterfalls and 170 miles of river, there is no shortage of water for fishing, rafting or swimming. For travelers who prefer hiking, the Poconos feature approximately 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail for hiking, biking or horseback riding. The perfect place to enjoy nature in its end of summer glory.

Midwest Branson, MO

Located in Southern Missouri, Branson is a great destination for travelers looking for live music. Known as "The Live Music Show Capital of the World," Branson has over 40 theaters playing host to over 100 shows! After catching a great performance, head over to the Branson Scenic Railway and ride a real vintage train through the Ozarks. With cars that span several decades, as well as an optional candlelight dinner, this ride is a fun way to enjoy scenery and history in a peaceful atmosphere.

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Located on the Wisconsin River in Central Wisconsin, this destination is known as the "Waterpark Capital of the World" and offers family-friendly activities to celebrate the end of summer. With six different indoor and outdoor waterparks featuring slides, wavepools and surfboarding, these parks are open to visitors regardless of the weather. For vacationers looking to stay dry and aim for the pin, Wisconsin Dells features eight different golf courses, from the 6-hole Little Links course for families and beginners, to the Wilderness Woods Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course. Sightseers looking for scenery on the water can relax on one of several boats that go out on the Wisconsin River. These trips provide a chance to see unique land formations such as Sugar Bowl, Grotto Island, Upside Down Heart and Wedding Bells.

Northwest Portland, OR

Travelers seeking a great family experience need look no further than Portland, the City of Roses. For a chance to see all of the roses, head over to the International Rose Test Garden which features over 500 varieties. Founded in 1917 it is the oldest, continuously operated rose test garden in the U.S., and admission is free! For a one of a kind shopping experience, Portland offers the Saturday Market where visitors can purchase unique art, enjoy food at the international food court and watch live bands. Prefer the great outdoors? Spend the day hiking on Mt. Baker or learn to parasail on the Columbia River.

Vancouver, BC

Visit our neighbors up north and escape to Vancouver for a long weekend. Celebrating its 100 days of summer, this beautiful city offers special deals on activities and attractions everyday running through September. While visiting, make sure to spend "Labour Day" at the Burnaby Village Museum. As part of the celebration, this early 1900 themed museum will offer 2-for-1 admission and a fall fair complete with baking competitions, entertainers, games and a parade. If adventure and trills are more your speed, check out the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is 450 ft. long and surrounded by beautiful evergreen rainforest. With 27 acres to travel, the Capilano Suspension Bridge site has several trails and offers a chance to walk in the treetops.

Mountain Denver, CO

Known for its great skiing, travelers can take advantage of this beautiful state before winter high-season hits. A short drive from the Rockies, Denver is a gateway to the mountains where travelers can visit towns like Vail or Aspen and enjoy festivals and fairs throughout the fall season. This year, Denver is hosting its 23rd "A Taste of Colorado" celebration. The four-day event is held at the Civic Center Park in Downtown Colorado and features over 50 area restaurants, 250 marketplace artisans and vendors, seven stages and educational programs all for no fee. If travelers are looking for some "green," they can head to the United States Mint. With daily tours that offer historical information and showcase the minting process, the Mint offers a chance to see money in the making.

Boise, Idaho

Located at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, Boise is a great escape for those looking for fun in the end-of-summer sun. Travelers can spend some of their Labor Day weekend touring the historic Idaho State Capitol. With a 208 ft. high dome and a sandstone exterior, the capitol building offers a bit of history to commemorate this national holiday weekend. For nature enthusiasts, Boise is home of The Peregrine Fund World Center for Birds of Prey. With a variety of falcons, eagles and even a California Condor, the center offers an educational and informative look at these exciting birds.

No matter where travelers head this weekend, they can easily stay on top of their plans with OrbitzTLC Mobile Access and other OrbitzTLC services. Travelers can check Orbitz travel itineraries, flight status and real-time, last-minute hotel availability in 20 U.S. markets right from their mobile phone or other wireless device. Customers can learn more about these and other OrbitzTLC services -- including OrbitzTLC Alerts -- by going to http://www.orbitzandgo.com/tlc or by clicking on the "TLC" tab on the Orbitz.com homepage.

About Orbitz:

Orbitz is a leading online travel company that enables travelers to search for and purchase a broad array of travel products, including airline tickets, lodging, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. Since launching its website http://www.orbitz.com/ to the general public in June 2001, Orbitz has become the third largest online travel site based on gross travel bookings. On Orbitz, consumers can search more than 400 airlines, tens of thousands of lodging properties worldwide and 13 car rental companies. Orbitz is a Travelport Inc. brand. Travelport is one of the largest and most geographically diverse travel companies, dedicated to creating the exceptional travel experiences the world demands.

Orbitz

CONTACT: Jeanenne Diefendorf of Orbitz, +1-312-894-4986,jdiefendorf@orbitz.com , or, Bryan Olender of Brodeur, +1-617-587-2044,bolender@brodeur.com

Web site: http://www.orbitz.com/http://www.orbitzandgo.com/tlc

Source: PRNewswire

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