Thanksgiving travel in the United States has reached new heights this year, with millions of Americans flocking to airports, highways, and cruise terminals in preparation for the holiday. The day before Thanksgiving, traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year, is expected to see an unparalleled surge in passenger volume.
On Tuesday, November 27, around 2.7 million travelers passed through airport security checkpoints across the country, setting a new record for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. This figure, released by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), surpasses last year’s record and signals the growing trend of increased travel during the holiday season. Industry analysts from Airlines for America, a trade group, predict that both Wednesday and Sunday, December 1, will see over 3 million air travelers each.
However, the surge in travel comes with its own set of challenges. Winter weather systems are threatening to disrupt plans, particularly along the East and West Coasts, which are under winter storm warnings. The Midwest is bracing for extreme cold, with temperatures in some areas forecast to plunge to as low as -40°F, according to meteorologist William Churchill at the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.
While Churchill noted that the weather isn’t unusually severe for a winter holiday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that both adverse weather conditions and high travel volumes are likely to cause delays and disruptions.
In particular, United Airlines reported significant delays at its Newark, New Jersey hub due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Nationally, more than 4,800 flights experienced delays, and 82 flights were canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking platform. To manage this, the FAA has implemented traffic flow management measures to address the staff shortage and minimize disruptions.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has forecast a record 80 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the Thanksgiving holiday period. A notable portion of this surge in travel is attributed to cruise ships, with the cruise industry reporting a 20% increase in passengers. Royal Caribbean Group, for instance, has announced that nearly its entire fleet will be in operation from November 26 to December 2, with approximately 150,000 passengers expected to be accommodated during this period. The company’s spokesperson emphasized the strong demand for holiday cruises this season.
