DALLAS — As Thanksgiving approaches, travelers are bracing for a busy holiday week filled with heavy traffic on roads and crowded airports. Predictions suggest that air travel in the United States could hit record numbers, making for a hectic travel experience.

The officials tasked with managing security and keeping airport operations running smoothly, including key figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation and airline executives, claim they are ready for the influx of travelers. Although airline passengers may find some comfort in last year’s experience, where flight cancellations were minimal, favorable weather conditions will be essential to avoid delays this time around. Additionally, a lack of air traffic controllers may still pose challenges affecting schedules.

According to a forecast by AAA, close to 80 million Americans are anticipated to travel at least 50 miles during the Thanksgiving period, with the majority opting for car travel. Fortunately for drivers, gas prices are projected to offer some relief, currently averaging $3.06 per gallon, down from $3.27 a year ago.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) estimates that it will screen around 18.3 million passengers at U.S. airports from Tuesday to the following Monday. This represents a 6% increase compared to last year’s figures and follows a general trend seen throughout 2024. On Sunday alone, TSA expects around 3 million travelers to pass through airport security, potentially surpassing the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. The days leading up to Thanksgiving—Tuesday and Wednesday—are also anticipated to see high volumes of air travel.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske mentioned, “This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever concerning air travel. Thankfully, we have our staffing levels at the highest point they have ever been, and we are prepared for the crowds.” Pekoske assured that security lines for standard per-travelers will be kept under 30 minutes, with expedited PreCheck lines under 10 minutes.

However, the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers remains a concern that could lead to flight delays. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Mike Whitaker indicated that the agency may implement special measures at certain airports to mitigate the impact of staff shortages, particularly in high-traffic areas like New York City and Florida. “If we experience staff shortages, we may limit traffic as necessary to maintain a safe travel system,” Whitaker affirmed. The FAA is still grappling with a sustained shortage of air traffic controllers, a problem that airline officials expect will endure in the coming years, despite the agency’s ambitious hiring plans.

This year’s Thanksgiving falls on November 28, a bit later than usual, which may shift travel patterns. With a longer period before the actual holiday, many travelers are likely to spread their departures over several days. Nonetheless, a significant surge in return travel can be expected right after the holiday. Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer at Southwest Airlines, pointed out that late Thanksgiving often results in an intense rush, especially from Saturday through Tuesday.

Last year saw airlines managing holiday crowds relatively effectively, with fewer than 400 flights canceled throughout Thanksgiving week — about one cancellation for every 450 flights. So far in 2024, about 1.3% of all flights have faced cancellations.

The rise of remote work has stretched out the Thanksgiving travel period, as many office workers now choose to arrive a few days earlier to work from their destination, blending business and pleasure. “The pandemic changed everything,” said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz. “We’re witnessing travelers leaving as early as the weekend before Thanksgiving, working remotely for a few days, and then enjoying quality time with family.”

However, individuals now avoid peak travel days of Wednesday and Sunday, leading to congestion on other days. “Travelers heeding the advice to avoid these busy days have instead created new traffic jams on alternative days,” Diaz noted.

For those traveling, officials advise arriving at airports well ahead of time, excluding lithium-ion batteries from checked luggage to avoid fire risks, and keeping firearms out of carry-ons. TSA has encountered over 6,000 firearms at checkpoints this year, most of which were loaded. Since the holiday season attracts many occasional travelers, it’s essential for passengers to familiarize themselves with banned and restricted items, which can be found on the TSA website.

Drivers should be cautious that travel on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be exceptionally congested, while Thanksgiving Day itself is expected to have lighter traffic. Upon returning from the holiday, the best times for motorists to travel are before 1 p.m. on Sunday and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday. In major cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and Washington, traffic levels are forecast to double compared to an average day, according to INRIX, a transportation analytics firm.