CHICAGO — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is projecting a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period this year, marking the busiest it’s been in 15 years for airports nationwide.

Thanksgiving consistently ranks as the most hectic travel time of the year, with millions of Americans hitting the roads and skies to be with loved ones.

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On Tuesday morning, Midway Airport experienced a brief Ground Stop for incoming flights due to low cloud cover, illustrating the challenges that come with increased air traffic.

This holiday season, Triple-A anticipates nearly 82 million people will be traveling across the country, underscoring the high demand for travel during this festive period.

Tuesday has proven to be an exceptionally busy day for air travel both locally and nationally, with the FAA reporting that over 52,000 flights are scheduled to take off.

Many airlines are preparing for the surge of flyers.

United expects around 300,000 more passengers this year compared to 2024.

And American Airlines added special late-night flights to make sure people get to their destinations on time during this holiday period.

So, if you’re flying for Thanksgiving, here’s some important things to remember:

Most foods can be carried through a TSA checkpoint, but some items must be in checked baggage, like most alcoholic beverages, cranberry sauce, gravy and any canned fruit or vegetables.

Also, keep an eye on the weather and check your flight ahead of time.

Parts of the country expect to see severe weather, which could lead to flight delays or cancellations.

And if you plan on driving, Triple-A says the worst backups are expected Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.