Over 4,000 flights experienced delays across the United States on Monday due to winter weather, with cold temperatures expected to continue throughout the week.
Winter storm advisories and warnings were in effect in various parts of the country on Nov. 25. Data from FlightAware shows that more than 4,200 flights in the United States were delayed on Monday, with an additional 68 flights being canceled. San Francisco International Airport was the most affected, with 500 delays and 26 cancellations. Other airports experiencing a high number of delays and cancellations included Los Angeles International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
As of 10:25 a.m. ET on Tuesday, there were 935 flight delays and 54 cancellations affecting the United States.
These flight disruptions coincide with the Thanksgiving rush, with the American Automobile Association (AAA) predicting a “record” 5.84 million people to fly domestically during the holiday season, marking an almost 11 percent increase from 2019.
The organization expects a total of 80 million travelers during the Thanksgiving period, surpassing pre-pandemic figures and setting a new record.
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, analyst at transportation data provider INRIX.
“This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.”
The National Weather Service is predicting an Arctic blast over the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing bitter cold to much of the United States.
“The first significant Arctic outbreak of the season will arrive in the northern Rockies and northern Plains on Thanksgiving and Friday. The cold will advance farther south and east through much of the Plains and Midwest this weekend,” it said in a Nov. 26 post.
“Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Heavy lake-effect snow Friday through Sunday.”
The agency cites a “potential for hazardous travel impacts” from Friday through Sunday.
Amid the winter disruptions, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina is facing a worker strike triggered by wage disagreements, which could pose additional challenges to travelers in the region.
Traveling During Thanksgiving
According to INRIX, the worst time to travel this week will be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, as stated by the AAA.
“The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road,” the AAA advised.
Out of the nearly 80 million travelers expected for Thanksgiving, the majority—more than 71 million—are predicted to travel by car.
David Pekoske, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said in a Nov. 22 post that this Thanksgiving week will be the busiest one on record, with 2024 already being the busiest year in TSA history.
Mike Whitaker, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, mentioned in a news conference on Nov. 21 that air traffic may experience delays this week due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
“During the Thanksgiving travel period, we will use traffic flow management initiatives to deal with any staffing shortages on that particular day in this airspace, and we expect to have some of those shortages,” he said. “So, we’re working diligently to make sure that can operate as efficiently as possible.”
A recent survey by GasBuddy revealed that 72 percent of Americans plan to travel for Thanksgiving via car, up from 41 percent last year, as gas prices are currently at “multi-year lows.”
“Gas prices have fallen nearly 70 cents from the summer high to their lowest level since 2021, and should provide some relief for Thanksgiving travelers. We expect prices to remain seasonally low leading up to the holidays, making road trips a more affordable option for millions of Americans,” said GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan.
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