As Thanksgiving approaches on Thursday, U.S. officials are bracing for heavy domestic travel from Tuesday through Sunday.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during this period, up 1.6 million from last year.
At Miami International Airport (MIA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen 640,000 passengers from Monday to Monday, according to spokesperson Daniel Valez.
Airport Delays and Flight Volumes
On Tuesday afternoon, MIA and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport ranked 15th nationwide on FlightAware’s Misery Map, which tracks delays and cancellations.
Chicago O’Hare, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and Denver International airports topped the list, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Houston George Bush Intercontinental, and Los Angeles International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration anticipated more than 52,000 domestic flights on Tuesday alone, while the TSA expected to screen approximately 2.7 million travelers.
Changing Travel Patterns
In the wake of a 43-day federal government shutdown, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged passengers to be courteous and dress more formally when flying.
Some travelers appear to be flying less than usual.
Cirium reported a 4.5% decrease in flight bookings compared to last year, while Wanderu noted a 17% rise in bus and train bookings.
AAA projects that nearly 90% of travelers will take road trips instead of flying.
Car rental companies expect Wednesday to be the busiest day for vehicle pick-ups, reflecting a surge in highway-bound holiday travel.
