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2h ago

Record Thanksgiving Travel Surges as Weather Threatens Delays

Air-traffic operations have largely normalized after the shutdown, with weather now the main threat.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 24: An aerial view of vehicles travelling along the Loop 1 highway on November 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. The AAA is expecting record-breaking travel during this year's Thanksgiving, making it the state's busiest Thanksgiving travel season in 15 years. An estimated total of 5.8 million people will be traveling by road and the skies over the upcoming week. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. Fewer US travelers are due to fly over the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays, with Christmas demand also looking shaky, after a record US government shutdown and concern about the economy weighed on would-be flyers. Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Cars travel on Highway 101 in Novato in 2024. The trip from San Francisco to Santa Rosa on Highway 101 on Tuesday is expected to be one of the most congested in the Bay Area for the Thanksgiving holiday week— taking about 2 hours and 34 minutes around 7:15 p.m., roughly 114% longer than usual.
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Overview

  • AAA expects about 81.8–82 million people to travel through Dec. 1, with nearly 73 million driving and the worst road congestion forecast Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and on Sunday’s return.
  • The FAA projects more than 360,000 flights for the period, including roughly 52,000 on Tuesday and another peak on Sunday as travelers head home.
  • The TSA plans to screen about 17.8 million passengers, and says Sunday, Nov. 30, could be among the busiest days in its history.
  • Airlines have added seats and major hubs such as Chicago O’Hare and LAX anticipate near-record volumes, while Amtrak and other non-air modes also expect record or near-record ridership.
  • Forecasters warn of storms across the central and eastern U.S.; delays and some cancellations were reported Tuesday, and officials urge early arrivals, checking forecasts, and carrying REAL ID-compliant identification.