Busy Thanksgiving : TSA Expects Record Numbers of Passengers to Take to the Skies

Published on November 25, 2025

Based on the most recent estimates, over 17.8 million travellers (TSA, 2023) will be making use of TSA security screening services between November 25 and December 2, 2025. We expect November 30 (Sunday) to be the peak da,y with in excess of 3 million travellers having booked flights on that day (continuing the trend of increasing demand for air travel during the holiday season). As air travel demand increases to more than 2 million travellers per day, so does the impact on the TSA wait times.

Based on the predictions of 3 million booked flights on November 30, and 17.8 million over the 8-day holiday, and families, friends, and holiday travellers Thanksgiving get-togethers, expect high congestion and wait times at security gates nationwide. Plan for longer wait times at security checkpoints over the Thanksgiving holiday, as it is one of the busiest travel times of the year. The increase in travelers during the holiday season can be attributed to the rebounding tourism industry and recoveries from the pandemic (with a renewed appetite for Eastern travel).

The busiest time for US airports: Thanksgiving

Every Thanksgiving holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for US airports. Travellers receive boarding passes and fly to all corners of the United States. Once all is in place, the airports and the entire infrastructure (including security and boarding gates) are overwhelmed and in a holding position. In addition to the holiday travel and surge in air travel, a great many travelers are expected to take domestic flights and take advantage of holiday sales, tour package promotions and travel deals to encourage visits and leisure travel to family and friends across the US.

Airports of the biggest and busiest US travel hubs: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas are the airports travelers will be flying to the most. The TSA US Transport Security Administration) predicts The busiest travel dates to be November the 30th, 25th, and December 1 for the Thanksgiving holiday travel season.

In anticipation of the increased flow of travelers, the security and boarding gates have been staffed and circuit(s) of security gates opened for travellers. To say the flow of travellers is expected to have delays is an understatement. All travellers are urged to arrive for their flights at least 3 hours before departure, and to expect long security lines and delays in security all the days in question.

Anticipated TSA Checkpoint Wait Times and Air Travel Patterns

Air Travel demand continues to build as the travel industry continues to recover from the pandemic, and the TSA continues to see record traveler passenger counts, most recently record November passenger counts for the TSA recently posted. There are numerous factors which fuel the demand for air travel as well, including the booking of extended family and friends reunions, family vacations of all types and the booking of long weekend getaways.

The TSA checkpoints this coming Thanksgiving Travel Season will include the following:

All Hubs. Higher passenger counts will result in longer time passengers will have to wait at all security checkpoints. Increased staffing to supervise and try to facilitate better accessibility of security for all passengers will also result in longer wait times. Increased Implementation of standard security protocols will be instituted, including the requirement to remove shoes, belts, and electronic device,s along with any other devices for the full screening of each passenger at the security checkpoin,t along with the screening of each carry-on and checked luggage piece.

The TSA site also provides for passengers the opportunity of the TSA PreCheck expedited screening program for qualified passengers, as well as Global Entry and CLEAR, which are options for travellers banking time the screening process.

Trend In Thanksgiving Travel

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is mainly focused on ensuring the frustration of the air travel system is minimised. This is why travel ads to major urban destinations is expected to spike. For the Thanksgiving holiday, destinations such as New York City, Orlando, and Las Vegas will be extremely popular as they host holiday events and have myriad family/visitor attractions. Goldberg (2012) points out the increase in attendance to major holiday festivals in United States cities such as San Francisco. Also popular are beach destinations, specifically warm, relaxing getaways like the Caribbean and Hawaii.

Washington, DC, and Philadelphia provide an opportunity to experience a rich portion of American history and culture through the monuments and museums in conjunction with the holiday festivities. Since Washington, DC Is the capital, and the hub of many domestic flights, these destinations are popular with tourists.

Travelling Tips During Thanksgiving Time

As expected, the travel flow will be tremendous and the TSA has allotted some travel tips for guidance.

Arrive early, because there will certainly be longer lines, so get to the airport 2-3 hours before the regular travel schedule for your departing flight.

Use mobile boarding passes: Rather than going to the airport early and waiting in line to obtain a paper boarding pass, do mobile boarding passes, as many airlines give that option.

Pack efficiently: Be sure to follow TSA guidelines to avoid carrying around oversized luggage, as that would just create a hassle. Also, some TSA lines have faster lines. If you have access to TSA Pre Check or other expedited screening programs, that can really speed up the process.

Stay updated: There can be changes or delays, especially on busy travel days, so it is best to stay updated.

Economic Impact of Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving and holiday travel don’t just impact the travel industry. There is also an economic impact to various tourist destinations. When families and solo travellers to to explore new or familiar destinations, those areas see an economic impact. Local businesses get a boost as there is an increase in customers for restaurants, hotels, and nearby attractions. When there is a surge in hospitality travelers to a city, those in the service industry see a big boost in income from jobs in hospitality, service, and retail.

There is also an economic benefit to the increase in airline bookings. There is strong demand for domestic flights and holiday packages. Many airlines are offering charter services and extra flights to meet the needs of travellers.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving 2025 is just around the corner which means the TSA is getting ready for a record travel season. This holiday season’s travel rush has a 17.8 million anticipated passing through airport security. Airlines and airports all over the country and the globe will benefit and expand because of the holiday travel rush. With the expected number of travelers, the busy travel season will present multiple challenges and inconveniences, which means travelers need to prepare for long wait times and need to take additional steps to simplify travel processes.

Luxurious travel and holiday travel are both on the rise as affluent travelers look to take memorable trips. This ensures that the Thanksgiving travel rush is the most anticipated holiday air travel rush. Advanced planning as well as being well informed will help travelers to fully benefit from the holiday air travel rush.