Local travelers avoid flying during this holiday season

With many flights canceled and delayed, locals are hitting the roads instead

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Airport issues are happening across the country but this isn't a problem in Yuma.

Juan Trasvina, Yuma International Airport Director of Operations, says they've only had minimal delays and cancellations compared to other airports.

Trasvina says sometimes they're impacted by the same things that affect larger airports, like pilot and crew shortages.

But so far this holiday season, they haven't seen any of those problems.

Meanwhile gas stations are full of cars as people take to the road.

Sue Kowalczyk, one traveler passing by says there's been traffic, but she'll take that over a flight right now.

"We're traveling home from Phoenix to San Diego. We were there since last Friday and the traffic in Yuma is pretty much the San Diego to Phoenix travelers because we didn't see this in San Diego," says Kowalczyk.

She says it's hard to believe all of the flights cancelled throughout the U.S.

"The people are traveling back home without their luggage that has ended up being on their original flight somehow," continues Kowalczyk. "That's kind of crazy. Glad we're not in the air."

Southwest Airlines has already canceled about 2,000 flights in just the past few days, so you might see more cars on the road.