HIGH TRAFFIC PREDICTED FOR HOLIDAY.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Staff Writer

New Year's weekend may be a snoozer at Los Angeles airports and on local freeways due to Y2K worries, but travelers are in high gear this Christmas weekend, with traffic expected to be just as busy as in recent years.

More than 5 million Californians and 3.2 million Southern Californians will hit the highways this weekend for long-distance holiday vacations, said Auto Club of Southern California spokeswoman Carol Thorp.

But this holiday season falls slightly short of the record 45.2 million travelers on the nation's roadways set last yeara 1 percent decrease largely because of Y2K worries.

``We've seen a steady, sharp increase in the number of people taking Christmas trips during the `90s, and this is the first year the number of travelers has declined,'' Thorp said. ``Concerns about Y2K have slightly reduced the number of people planning holiday trips.''

Still, a 1 percent dip is not very noticeable. Freeways and airports are expected to be jammed today and Sunday, Thorp said.

``In general, drivers should prepare themselves for delays, especially on roads leading out of Southern California and to major airports,'' Thorp said.

California Highway Patrol Officer Wendy Moore said officers will initiate their holiday maximum enforcement period beginning a 6 p.m. today and lasting through midnight Sunday.

The congestion will likely decrease at LAX and Burbank airports New Year's weekend due to Y2K worries. Travel agents report that airlines like United and Delta still have coach seats available to popular destinations like New York and Miami, and prices are being slashed.

Also, many Airlines at LAX have cut their number of flights for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 because of light bookings, LAX spokesman Thomas Winfrey said.

``We're expecting it to be a very light New Year's travel period,'' Winfrey said. ``People are staying home.''

Moore said the same of Los Angeles freeways.

``We expect people to be out celebrating, but L.A. traffic is hard to predict this New Year,'' Moore said. ``All the reports we've heard is that there a large numbers of people staying home.''

But Christmas departures and returns are a different story.

More than 2 million passengers are expected to travel through LAX between today and Jan. 2 -- including Christmas vacation returns -- an average of more than 174,000 travelers per day, Winfrey said. This strong holiday rush at the end of the month could bring the number of passengers for all of December to more than 5.4 million travelers, Winfrey said.

Airport traffic was already becoming heavy Thursday morning.

``We still have some parking spaces left, but that won't last long,'' Winfrey said. ``We expect it to get very busy tonight, and our normal advice to get here early stands.''

Burbank Airport was also reporting heavy and steady traffic Thursday afternoon.

``There will be crowds through (today),'' said Randall Berg, the airport's director of operations. ``I imagine our parking lots will also be full by (today).''

Those expecting to use the Van Nuys Flyaway shuttle service to LAX are also out of luck with parking. As of noon Thursday, the Flyaway parking lot was full, a spokesman said.

Officials were recommending that travelers using the Flyaway find someone to drop them off at the bus terminal. Busses leave every 15 minutes, the spokesman said.

For more information about Flyaway services, please call [phone].

Holiday travelers bringing gifts as carry-on items to airports are advised to leave them unwrapped for security examinations. Wrapped gifts should be checked-in with other baggage.

Airport officials urged travelers to leave their cars, SUVs and trucks at home and take vans, buses, taxis, limos or the Metro Rail Green Line to LAX.

Travelers who drive to LAX should use the airport's long-term parking -- Lots B and C -- and avoid the central terminal.

Travelers ca n visit LAX's Web site at www.lawa.org to get information on alternative transportation options, parking, passenger services, terminal locations, airlines and flight schedules, baggage storage, airport news and a map of the airport.

For more information, call the LAX general information at [phone].