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As Thanksgiving approaches, air traffic controllers are gearing up for a significant increase in flights, with more than 52,000 scheduled for the Tuesday preceding the holiday.
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) anticipates the highest level of Thanksgiving air travel in 15 years, forecasting over 360,000 flights during the holiday period. The FAA has designated Tuesday, November 25, as the peak travel day, with a staggering 52,000 flights expected to depart.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford expressed confidence in the agency’s preparedness for the holiday season. “Our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee are committed to ensuring a smooth travel experience during this busy time,” Bedford stated. “We take great pride in helping passengers reach their loved ones, and I am profoundly thankful for our team’s dedication to maintaining safety amid record-high traffic levels.”
To manage the increased volume, the FAA has outlined a variety of tools and traffic-management techniques to ensure flights proceed safely and efficiently through the national airspace system.
The FAA said air traffic controllers will use a range of tools and traffic-management strategies to keep flights moving safely through the national airspace system.
Travelers can find updated guidance, including airport status, packing rules and TSA screening tips, on the FAA’s Holiday Travel webpage.
Passengers should ensure they’re following the 3.4-ounce limit for liquids in carry-on bags and check TSA.gov or @AskTSA on social media with any questions about what items are allowed through security.
Travelers are also reminded to enroll or double-check their TSA PreCheck status, and ensure they have their REAL IDs or other acceptable IDs, to help speed up screening.
The Department of Transportation has also launched a new customer service dashboard to help passengers understand airline policies during delays or cancellations.
“Remember to be patient, be kind and follow crewmember instructions,” the FAA said.