Those who put off their Thanksgiving holiday trips to the last minute should brace themselves for congested roads and the busiest day of the week at the country’s airports.
As many Christmas revelers prepare to head back home, the Transportation Security Administration anticipated screening 2.9 million individuals on Wednesday and over 3 million on Sunday.
Travelers had cause to express gratitude. By late morning, FlightAware reported that only a few dozen flights on the East Coast had been canceled.
Nonetheless, over 1,000 planes were experiencing delays, which is indicative of the growing trend of tardiness at American airlines. Since last weekend, airlines had been averaging over 4,500 late flights every day, and by dark, Wednesday’s count was probably going to get close to or even exceed that figure.
Forecasters predicted that Wednesday afternoon would be the worst time to drive. Commuters who are unfortunate enough to be working on the day before the holiday will be mingling with drivers who are leaving town.
Traffic jams were made worse by accidents. The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that a dump truck hit a bridge over Interstate 95 in Delaware, causing the roadway to be stopped for several hours.
The wild card is the weather.
Over the next few days, traffic may be hampered by an Arctic blast in the Midwest and rainy conditions in the Eastern U.S.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted that mixed precipitation would move from northern Arizona across the Plains and upper Midwest into Pennsylvania, New York, and portions of New England from Wednesday until early Thursday. In parts of the Northeast, a cold, sloppy mix was predicted to persist into Saturday.
On Thursday and Friday, forecasters anticipate clear skies over the majority of the country’s western two-thirds, but the Southeast is expected to see showers and possibly thunderstorms, which could increase the likelihood of flight delays.
Thanksgiving, according to the statistics
Between Tuesday and next Monday, about 80 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home, with the majority doing it by car, according to a prediction made by the auto club and insurance provider AAA.
Gas prices should be slightly reduced for drivers.The average price of gasoline nationwide was $3.07 a gallon on Wednesday, compared to $3.25 during the same period last year.
However, government statistics show that airfares have increased by roughly 4.1% in the past year.
Over the same seven-day period, 18.3 million individuals were anticipated to be screened at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration. That would fit a pattern established throughout 2024, but it would be 6% more than over the same days last year.
The TSA anticipates the largest crowd on Sunday, which may surpass the 3.01 million record set on the Sunday following the Fourth of July holiday.
A lack of FAA employees could cause delays.
With its largest workforce history, TSA Administrator David Pekoske stated that his agency is prepared; nonetheless, aircraft delays may result from the Federal Aviation Administration’s continuous lack of air traffic controllers.
Last week, FAA Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker stated that his organization will probably take further steps to address shortages at certain locations.
“We will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe if we are short on staff,” he said.
Similar actions have halted aircraft in Florida and New York City during the past two years.
Despite the agency’s ambitious hiring targets, the FAA has long faced a controller shortfall that airline officials predict will persist for years.
Turkey on the aircraft
Turkey, stuffing, and other holiday favorites are permitted to pass through airport security, according to TSA, although liquids like gravy and cranberry sauce cannot be carried in excess of 3.4 ounces.
You shouldn’t bring anything on the plane just because you can.
Lorie Dankers, a TSA spokesman, stated that she would not want gravy in her checked baggage and would not want it in her carry-on luggage.
Infrequent travelers often have queries about what they can bring on the airline over Thanksgiving.Lists of prohibited or restricted items are available on the TSA website and app.
Time spent driving
According to transportation analytics firm INRIX, Wednesday afternoon was predicted to be the worst time to drive before Thanksgiving, but Thursday will be a calm ride on the roadways.
According to the firm, the least crowded driving periods on the return trip will be before 1 p.m. on Sunday and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday.
According to Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst for INRIX, traffic in major cities including Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and Washington is predicted to be more than double what it normally is on an average day.
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