Travelers returning home after the Thanksgiving festivities witnessed a historic surge on Sunday, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported screening over 3 million individuals.
This figure reached an impressive total of 3.09 million, surpassing the previous record by approximately 74,000 travelers, a benchmark established on July 7, which also fell on a Sunday following a holiday.
Despite the record-breaking passenger count, many travelers faced disruptions with their journeys. A number of flights were either postponed or canceled entirely. On that day, airlines affected about 120 domestic flights—although this is not considered an unusually high figure. Moreover, more than 6,800 flights encountered delays, with the most significant congestion occurring at major hubs like Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The TSA had previously forecasted a 6% increase in air travel during the Thanksgiving week compared to the same period last year, reflecting a broader trend of escalating travel in 2024.