TSA predicts busiest air travel weekend ever over Thanksgiving holiday

This year’s Thanksgiving play is expected to beryllium the busiest aerial question play successful American history, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Approximately 18.3 cardinal radical are expected to wide TSA checkpoints betwixt Nov. 26 and Dec. 2, the bureau said Tuesday successful a property release. That would beryllium a 6% summation implicit past year’s extended Thanksgiving weekend.

“I promote travelers to program ahead, travel TSA’s question tips, and instrumentality vantage of programs similar TSA PreCheck — simple steps that volition marque everyone’s travel smoother, our skies safer, and TSA’s occupation easier,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said successful a property release.

TSA expects to surface 2.8 cardinal passengers connected Nov. 26, 2.9 cardinal passengers connected Nov. 27 and much than 3 cardinal passengers connected Dec. 1, according to the agency. The Sunday aft Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest aerial question time of the year.

The apical 10 aerial question days successful TSA past person each occurred successful 2024, according to the agency. The grounds was acceptable connected July 7, the Sunday aft Independence Day, erstwhile more than 3 cardinal radical cleared TSA checkpoints successful a azygous time for the archetypal clip ever.

“We expect that inclination to continue,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “As we attack Thanksgiving, TSA is acceptable to accommodate grounds rider volumes.”

TSA leaders advised that immoderate accepted Thanksgiving staples — gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves — each number arsenic liquids and gels, meaning they can’t beryllium included successful carry-on bags if they transcend 3.4 ounces.