WATCH: Buttigieg previews preparations for Memorial Day travel surge

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg held a news conference Tuesday, ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when travel is expected to surpass pre-pandemic numbers.

Watch the news conference in the player above.

More than 40 million Americans are expected to travel over the weekend that many deem the unofficial start of summer, according to a AAA projection.

“This weekend will be a test of the system,” Buttigieg said.

“This is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “More Americans are planning trips and booking them earlier, despite inflation. This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports.”

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Last year, thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed amid a surge of travelers looking forward to time away from home after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased.

“All of us have airline stories from last summer and the disruptions that took place then,” Buttigeig said. “Cancellations and delay rates were at unacceptable proportions last year and it’s important that that not happen again.”