In response to the federal government’s rearview mirror shutdown, the airline trade group Airlines for America (A4A) predicts that U.S. airlines will carry more than 31 million passengers during the Thanksgiving period, which runs from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1.
That total equates to about 2.8 million passengers per day, according to A4A, and the airline plans to offer 45,000 additional seats per day compared to 2024 to meet demand.
The busiest days are expected to be Sunday, November 30th and Monday, December 1st. A4A President and CEO Chris Sununu said the industry is eagerly preparing for the milestone holiday season. “We’re all looking forward to going home for the holidays, and airlines are working hard to prepare for what is expected to be a record-breaking Thanksgiving,” he said.
Given the additional seat capacity (an additional 45,000 seats per day), airlines are responding by scaling up to match the expected influx, but that also means more people moving.
Florida holiday travel surge
Florida continues to be one of the nation’s top Thanksgiving destinations, and the state’s airports are preparing for another record number of visitors this year. Visit Florida reported that the Sunshine State will welcome an estimated 143 million visitors in 2024, setting an all-time record and marking a 1.7 percent increase from the previous year. Approximately 130 million of those are domestic travelers, underscoring Florida’s enduring appeal to Americans seeking a warm-weather vacation during the holiday season.
According to Visit Florida, approximately 40% of all visitors arrive by air, representing tens of millions of passengers passing through major hubs such as Orlando International Airport (MCO), Miami International Airport (MIA), Tampa International Airport (TPA), and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Both 2024 Thanksgiving arrivals have seen significant year-over-year increases, with Orlando and Miami ranking among the busiest airports for leisure travel in the United States. Analysts expect another big increase this week as families head to Florida’s beaches, theme parks and resorts for the long holiday weekend.
