TSA predicts busiest air travel weekend ever over Thanksgiving holiday

This year’s Thanksgiving weekend is expected to be the busiest air travel weekend in American history, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Approximately 18.3 million people are expected to clear TSA checkpoints between Nov. 26 and Dec. 2, the agency said Tuesday in a press release. That would be a 6% increase over last year’s extended Thanksgiving weekend.

“I encourage travelers to plan ahead, follow TSA’s travel tips, and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck — simple steps that will make everyone’s journey smoother, our skies safer, and TSA’s job easier,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a press release.

TSA expects to screen 2.8 million passengers on Nov. 26, 2.9 million passengers on Nov. 27 and more than 3 million passengers on Dec. 1, according to the agency. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest air travel day of the year.

The top 10 air travel days in TSA history have all occurred in 2024, according to the agency. The record was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day, when more than 3 million people cleared TSA checkpoints in a single day for the first time ever.

“We anticipate that trend to continue,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “As we approach Thanksgiving, TSA is ready to accommodate record passenger volumes.”

TSA leaders advised that some traditional Thanksgiving staples — gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves — all count as liquids and gels, meaning they can’t be included in carry-on bags if they exceed 3.4 ounces.