ATLANTA — Airports across the country are preparing for what is expected to be the busiest holiday travel period on record, with federal officials projecting as many as 3.1 million passengers passing through security checkpoints on the peak days of the coming week.
Airlines have added thousands of flights, and airports are bringing in extra staff to handle crowds, according to the National Air Travel Association, a trade group representing major carriers. Travel analysts also expect record numbers of drivers on the nation’s highways. “People are traveling more than ever to be with family and friends,” said Michelle Harper, the association’s president. “We’ve been planning for this since summer, and we’re ready, but travelers should plan ahead too.”
Busiest days ahead
The busiest days are expected to be the Sunday after the holiday and the Wednesday before it. Airlines and airport officials encourage travelers to arrive early, check flight status and use mobile apps for boarding passes and bag tracking.
- Projected peak-day screenings: about 3.1 million
- Additional flights scheduled: about 4,500 over the travel period
- Expected highway travelers: about 57 million
- Busiest days: the day before the holiday and the Sunday after
At Atlanta’s main airport, one of the world’s busiest, officials said they would open additional security lanes and deploy staff to help travelers navigate crowded terminals. Parking lots are expected to fill quickly, and officials urged travelers to consider ride-share or public transit.
Weather and staffing concerns
Weather remains a major wildcard. Winter storms in the Northeast and Midwest could cause delays and cancellations that ripple across the national system. Airlines said they have added reserve crews and aircraft to help recover from disruptions.
A snowstorm in one city can cause delays across the country within hours. We’ve built more slack into our schedules this year, but we can’t control the weather.
David Lin, chief operating officer of the Skyward Airlines
Some consumer advocates say airlines should do more to support travelers when flights are delayed or canceled. Laura Bennett, director of the Traveler Rights Alliance, said passengers should know their options for rebooking, refunds and meal vouchers.
“Every year, people get stranded and don’t know what they’re entitled to,” she said. “Clear, upfront information makes a big difference when things go wrong.” Federal officials have expanded online dashboards showing airline policies on delays and cancellations. Airlines say they have improved customer service staffing and digital rebooking tools.
Air traffic control staffing has also been a concern in recent years. Federal officials said they have hired additional controllers and adjusted schedules to cover peak travel periods, though some facilities remain short-staffed. On the roads, transportation officials warned of heavy traffic on major interstates, especially in the afternoons before the holiday. Some states suspended construction work on highways to reduce delays.
Rail and bus operators are also expecting heavy demand. Intercity rail services in the Northeast added extra trains and seats on the busiest days, while bus companies reported strong advance bookings on routes linking college towns with major cities. Officials encouraged travelers to book early, because popular departures were already close to selling out several days before the holiday week.
Despite crowds and costs, many travelers said the trip was worth it. At a gate in Atlanta, retired nurse Gloria Simmons waited for a flight to Denver to see her new granddaughter. “I’d sit through a dozen delays for this,” she said. “Some trips you just make, no matter what.”
