Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Next Monday's Total Solar Eclipse is colliding with Easter travel.
"A ton of people are on vacation this week for Easter and they're all
looking to come home this weekend, just as people are arriving here to
see the eclipse," said Elizabeth Carey of AAA of Western and Central
New York.
It's created a travel crunch for the upcoming weekend.
"We're seeing limited availability and high demand for everything from flights to hotels to rental cars," Carey added.
Buffalo Airport Director of Aviation Lee Weitz was asked about the upcoming weekend with a perfect storm of spring break and eclipse travelers.
"Flight schedules don't change," he said. "Airlines are not adding any additional flights. But every flight will be full, I can guarantee that. 8,000 people a day coming into Western New York."
Plus, Weitz said Signature Flight Support, the former Prior Aviation, will have a good amount of aircraft flying in.
Eclipse day will be business as usual at the airport.
"We will not shut down at any time during the eclipse. Flights will be landing during the eclipse," he added.
Hotel occupancy for the eclipse is estimated to be at about 80% according to Visit Buffalo Niagara
Carey said hotel demand for the weekend of April 6 through the 8th, has pushed the average daily rate of $125/night to between $500 and $1,000 dollars a night. She said there's really no way to get a concrete number for hotel occupancy until after the fact. Erie County has about 10,000 hotel rooms.
Rental car prices are up about 300%. Carey compared prices between April 6-9 and April 13-16.