Travellers returning home after the Thanksgiving holiday set a new record on Sunday, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States screened over 3 million passengers.
The TSA reported handling 3.09 million travellers, surpassing the previous record by around 74,000, which had been set on July 7, also a Sunday following a holiday.
However, the surge in passengers led to significant delays and cancellations. Airlines canceled about 120 flights—an average number—while more than 6,800 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware.
The heaviest delays occurred at major hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The TSA had anticipated a 6% increase in air travel over Thanksgiving week compared to last year, continuing a trend of record-breaking travel volumes in 2024.
Travel disruptions are possible due to heavy lake-effect snow bands, which are expected to continue affecting parts of the Great Lakes snowbelts, from Upper Michigan to upstate New York. Given the heavy snowfall over the past few days, these areas could experience significant travel issues, including road closures, according to The Weather Channel.
However, no major airport delays are anticipated at major hubs. Meanwhile, the rest of the country is likely to experience clear, dry conditions, with little to no precipitation expected across most regions.