WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush said Tuesday that the government will expand to the entire country the opening of extra flight lanes typified by the East Coast "Thanksgiving Express" lane made available by the military a year ago.

"A lot of our citizens are nervous about travel," Bush said in a speech at the Department of Transportation. "They are saying 'Will traveling home for the holidays be a wonderful life or will it be the nightmare before Christmas?'"

Bush announced that additional air travel lanes this holiday season will be made available along not only the Eastern Seaboard and in the New York City area, but also in the Midwest, Southwest and West.

The president said the aim is to "make travel easier" for Americans, and said he recognizes that people are worried about flights delays, lost baggage and other problems as the holiday season approaches.

"Modernizing our aviation system is an urgent challenge," Bush said.

He said he expects that new Transportation Department rules carrying out the policy change for extra flying lanes will be finalized and ready for the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The union representing air traffic controllers said last year's efforts had little impact on traffic congestion, and this year's steps are unlikely to provide any significant relief either.