Overview
- AAA projects about 81.8–82 million people traveling Nov. 25–Dec. 1, including roughly 73 million drivers and about 6 million domestic fliers.
- The FAA has scheduled more than 360,000 flights for the period, with over 52,000 today, and the TSA expects to screen 17.8 million, projecting Sunday as one of its busiest days ever.
- Following a 43-day shutdown, the FAA lifted flight caps and says controller staffing is back to normal, yet Cirium reports five-day holiday bookings down about 4.48% from last year.
- Airlines still anticipate heavy demand: Airlines for America forecasts 31 million passengers through Dec. 1, with carriers adding capacity and preparing for late bookings.
- Weather threats are mounting, with a winter storm targeting the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, and by early afternoon more than 2,000 U.S. flights were delayed, including dozens across New York’s airports.