Millions of Americans are expected to travel by air, road, and rail this Thanksgiving despite high gasoline and jet fuel prices amid the ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts. Rail operators and airlines are gearing up for a busy holiday season, with passenger numbers expected to reach record levels.
According to travel company Hopper, approximately 2.2 percent more flights are scheduled for Thanksgiving this year than for the same period in 2025. However, travelers will face much higher ticket prices, with domestic round trips up 39 percent and international fares up at least 30 percent.
A trade association representing major North American airlines, Airlines for America, projects that nearly 29 million people will travel during the Thanksgiving break, per ABC News.
Sunday after Thanksgiving expected to be busiest travel day
With millions of travelers expected to fly this Thanksgiving, Hopper data suggests Sunday, November 29, will be the busiest day for air travel. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are projected to handle some of the highest passenger volumes. Both airports have more than 2 million seats scheduled between November 21 and December 1.
American Airlines is gearing up for a busy holiday season. In a press release on Monday, the carrier said it expects more than 8 million customers to travel on 85,000 flights between November 19 and December 1. The airline forecasts an average of one flight every 13 seconds during that period. With 7,021 flights scheduled, November 29 will be the busiest operating day since the pandemic.
Amtrak and United Airlines prepare for the holiday rush
United Airlines is expecting major travel demand during the Thanksgiving period. The carrier expects to fly more than 500,000 passengers daily across more than 4,800 flights between November 19 and December 1. Meanwhile, United expects Friday, November 20, to be the busiest day before Thanksgiving, with more than 540,000 travelers, per ABC News. And demand is expected to increase further during the holiday season, with around 600,000 passengers expected to fly on Sunday, November 29.
Americans planning to travel by train should also prepare for crowded service. Amtrak expects a record number of travelers and has advised passengers to book tickets early. The national rail operator plans to increase the capacity along their popular Northeast Corridor between November 20 and November 30. They are also introducing two additional roundtrip trains between Washington, D.C., and New York City on November 24, 25, and November 28, 29.
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