Thanksgiving holiday air travel is expected to hit a 15-year high, the FAA says

Make sure to pack some patience in your carry-on.

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is expected to be the busiest in 15 years, federal officials said, as Americans braced for the latest government shutdown that halted air travel across the country.

All told, more than 360,000 flights will take to the skies this week through Dec. 1, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Traffic was expected to peak on Tuesday, with more than 52,000 flights scheduled to board flights to their destinations.

The number of flights was expected to drop to just 25,611 on Thanksgiving before picking up again for post-holiday travel. In a chart posted on X, the US Department of Transportation estimated that 16.9 million people will fly this holiday weekend.

Los Angeles International Airport officials estimate that 2.5 million passengers will arrive through the airport between November 20 and Monday. Sunday is expected to be the single busiest day of travel, with more than 230,000 people making their way through the terminal.

“Thanksgiving is one of LAX’s most important travel periods as many of our guests connect with loved ones or go on holiday trips,” said Courtney Moore, executive vice president of strategy, innovation and experience at Los Angeles International Airport. “We have been preparing to welcome our guests with smooth experiences throughout the airport.”

The increase in travel comes just weeks after the federal Government shutdownwhich forced the FAA to reduce air traffic across the country to relieve air traffic controllers.

While travelers may still be feeling the pinch about potential delays, FAA Administrator Brian Bedford said news conference Monday that they should “travel with confidence.”

“Thanks to the dedication of our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee, we are ready for the holidays and proud to help travelers reach their friends and families during this important time of year,” Bedford said in a statement. statement. “I am extremely grateful to our entire FAA team. Even during record high traffic, their unwavering commitment keeps the system running safely.”

Passengers are encouraged to pack light to get through security and arrive at the airport early to avoid travel stress.

While California will be largely warm and sunny through the holiday, Air delay Airports in some parts of the country may still be affected, including the New York area, JFK/LGA/EWR; Philadelphia, PHL; Houston, IAH/HOU; Memphis, Tenn., MEM; and Dallas, DFW/DAL.

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