Overview
- AAA projects 81.8 million people traveling through Dec. 1, with roughly 73 million by car and the worst highway congestion expected Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, according to INRIX.
- The FAA forecasts the busiest Thanksgiving for aviation in 15 years, with more than 52,000 departures on the peak day and over 360,000 flights scheduled across the week as TSA prepares to screen about 17.8 million people.
- After a 43‑day federal shutdown, flight bookings for the core holiday window are down about 4.48% year over year, and estimates of total flyers diverge, with Airlines for America citing about 31 million and AAA reporting roughly 6 million domestic flyers.
- Early Tuesday operations were largely smooth at major airports including Phoenix, Detroit, Boston and Rochester, with few delays reported as airlines restored schedules and added capacity such as late‑night options.
- Forecasters flag storms across the South and snow in northern regions that could disrupt trips, while DOT leaders urge civility and early arrivals, car rentals run about 15% cheaper, and advocates warn of heightened barriers for disabled travelers.