More Americans will take a year-end holiday trip this year than last year — despite falling consumer confidence, but perhaps buoyed by lower gas prices — the auto association AAA said Tuesday (yesterday). AAA projects 94.5 million Americans will take a trip of at least 50 miles sometime during the holiday period — a 0.6 percent increase from the estimated 94 million last year. The motor club federation defines the holiday period as December 21 to January 1. The group said 91 percent of travelers will go by automobile, an increase of 0.9 percent from last year. But holiday air travel, it said, is expected to drop slightly to 5.53 million passengers from 5.61 million last year. AAA said the calendar is one reason that travel is expected to pick up this year. Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Wednesdays, giving travelers the option to start their trip earlier than they would otherwise, or extend through the following weekend, the group said.