Overview
- AAA forecasts about 81.8 million people traveling at least 50 miles through Dec. 1, with roughly 73 million driving and the worst road congestion expected Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and a heavy return on Sunday.
- The FAA projects its busiest Thanksgiving in about 15 years with more than 360,000 flights and a roughly 52,000‑flight peak on Tuesday, as airlines and airports add capacity for the surge.
- The TSA expects to screen around 17.8 million passengers for the period, with Sunday, Nov. 30, projected to be among the busiest days in agency history.
- Meteorologists warn of disruptive weather including heavy rain and thunderstorms across the South and significant snow and high winds in the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, posing risks to late‑week and return travel.
- Holiday air bookings were 4.48% lower year over year as of Nov. 24 after shutdown turbulence, yet agencies report operations are back to normal; rail, bus and cruise travel is seen rising about 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million and REAL ID requirements are in full effect at checkpoints.