After shutdown turmoil, travelers brace for a record Thanksgiving week

November 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM•2 min read•Susan Glaser

Record Thanksgiving travel looms: How airlines are bracing for 6M flyers post-shutdown.

Key Points

1Record 6 million air travelers expected for Thanksgiving, part of an 81.8 million total.
2US DOT previously mandated flight reductions at 40 busiest airports due to staffing and air traffic controller fatigue.
3Airlines prepare for high volume, advising passengers to use apps and understand compensation policies.
4United, Delta, Southwest, and Frontier have varying policies for rebooking and overnight cancellation coverage.

The United States aviation sector prepares for an unprecedented surge in Thanksgiving holiday travel, with projections indicating a record 81.8 million Americans will journey at least 50 miles from home. Of this monumental figure, approximately 6 million travelers are expected to take to the skies, marking a significant test for airlines and airport infrastructure following recent operational disruptions. This holiday rush arrives on the heels of a federal government shutdown that caused considerable turmoil, including a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) order for mandatory flight reductions at the nation's 40 busiest airports due to concerns over staffing shortages and air traffic controller fatigue.

While flight schedules have largely normalized post-shutdown, the sheer volume of holiday traffic, coupled with potential adverse weather, poses a substantial challenge for maintaining smooth operations. The US DOT's prior intervention underscores ongoing pressures on the civil aviation system to balance demand with operational capacity and safety. Airlines are now focused on mitigating potential delays and cancellations, leveraging technology and established protocols to manage the influx of passengers.

Travelers are strongly advised to utilize airline mobile applications for real-time updates and rebooking options, which often prove the most efficient method during high-volume periods. Understanding individual airline policies regarding compensation for delays or cancellations is also critical; for instance, United Airlines facilitates rebooking on partner airlines at no additional cost for cancellations, while Southwest Airlines does not. Similarly, Delta Air Lines covers hotel costs for overnight cancellations, a policy not uniformly adopted by carriers like Frontier Airlines. Resources such as the US DOT’s Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard offer valuable insights into passenger entitlements, empowering travelers to navigate potential disruptions effectively during this peak travel season.