United States airlines are ready to handle a record-breaking number of travelers over the Thanksgiving period, despite the recent effects of the government shutdown.
The airline industry is expecting more than 31 million passengers to fly during the holiday travel window, which this year stretches from November 20 to December 2, according to Airlines for America.
The largest US airlines say they have fully recovered from the mandatory flight reductions imposed during the shutdown and are prepared to handle the huge influx of travelers over Thanksgiving. The FAA’s flight reductions officially ended on Monday, November 17.
“While the government shutdown is behind us, we understand the uncertainty may have led you to rethink or reschedule your travel plans,” says a note from Erik Snell, Delta’s chief customer experience officer. “Rest assured, our operations are running normally, and Delta people remain dedicated to safely delivering the premium, reliable experiences you expect.”
In fact, many travelers have booked last-minute trips to see family and friends now that the shutdown’s flight cuts have subsided. “Customers making last-minute holiday plans — and those who booked months ago — can rest assured that our operation will run smoothly and safely,” said David Seymour, American’s chief operating officer.
American Airlines and its regional partners expect to operate almost 81,000 flights during the Thanksgiving stretch. The carrier’s busiest travel day will be Sunday, November 30, and it has added extra late-night flights on that day from key cities like Phoenix and Chicago to give travelers more options for flying back home.
Although not the busiest day overall, Monday, December 1 will see American’s most planes in the sky simultaneously, with 1,077 jets scheduled to be in the air at the same time that day at 11:10 a.m. CT. The carrier also expects to handle nearly 5.6 million checked bags over the course of the holiday.
At United Airlines, executives expect to see the airline’s highest number of passengers ever for a Thanksgiving. The airline will fly more than 6.6 million passengers during the two weeks around Thanksgiving, an increase of about 300,000 fliers compared to 2024. The carrier says it saw a 15% jump in Thanksgiving bookings after the government shutdown ended.
The Chicago-based airline expects more than 600,000 people to fly on Sunday, November 30, which will be its busiest travel day.
United plans to operate about 4,500 flights every day during the Thanksgiving period. Inside its plane cabins, the carrier expects to serve more than 2 million stroopwaffle snacks and predicts the most-watched movie will be Wicked, in anticipation of the imminent debut of the film’s part two.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
