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AAA Forecasts Record 81.8 Million Thanksgiving Travelers as FAA Restores Normal Flights

FAA’s removal of flight limits restores normal schedules ahead of record holiday demand.

In an aerial view, traffic backs up on Highway 101 on November 27, 2024 in San Francisco, California.
In an aerial view, traffic backs up on Interstate 80 on Nov. 27, 2024, in San Francisco.
An image of traffic congestion on a highway in Los Angeles, California.
Image

Overview

  • AAA projects about 73 million people will drive and roughly 6 million will fly between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1.
  • The FAA has lifted emergency flight reductions, restoring normal airline schedules from Monday at 6 a.m. ET, though localized cancellations and weather could still prompt plan changes.
  • Traffic analytics indicate the worst congestion Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings, with heavy returns Sunday, while Thanksgiving Day sees minimal impact.
  • Car-rental demand peaks Wednesday in markets like Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Newark, with average rates about 15% lower than last year and gas near $3.06–$3.07 a gallon.
  • Nearly 2.5 million travelers are expected to use buses, trains or cruises, and AAA urges vehicle preparation and sober driving after nearly 600,000 roadside calls last Thanksgiving.