Chicago Joins Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Many More US International Airports in Embracing Massive Cancellations and Travel Chaos as Thanksgiving Holiday Week Unfolds, Latest Update

Published on November 30, 2025

By: Tuhin Sarkar

Chicago, joins Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, San Francisco, and many more, is now at the center of this unprecedented travel and airline disruption due to Thanksgiving Holiday Week. As the Thanksgiving holiday week unfolds, travelers are facing frustrating delays, hundreds of cancellations, and overcrowded terminals, making it nearly impossible to get home for the holiday.

The combination of FAA flight reductions due to the government shutdown and severe winter storms has turned Chicago into one of the hardest-hit airports. In fact, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Phoenix have all reported a massive surge in delayed flights and cancelled departures, stranding thousands of holiday passengers. As San Francisco, Houston, and other U.S. international airports brace for more chaos, the situation only gets worse. Travelers are being urged to arrive early, stay alert on flight statuses, and prepare for lengthy delays that seem inevitable.

With weather conditions, FAA staffing shortages, and unforeseen flight reductions, airports across the nation are struggling to keep up with the surge in passengers. Whether you’re traveling through Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Atlanta, flight cancellations and chaos are expected to continue. Travel And Tour World urges every reader to read this entire story for crucial updates, as we dive deep into the mayhem unfolding at these U.S. international airports. Stay tuned as we detail what you need to know to survive this holiday season!

The Thanksgiving 2025 travel season was a nightmare for countless passengers, as U.S. airports were engulfed in chaos, delays, and cancellations. A deadly cocktail of a government shutdown, FAA flight cuts, and a brutal winter storm wreaked havoc across the nation, leaving travelers stranded, frustrated, and helpless. If you thought the busiest travel time of the year couldn’t get any worse, think again!

Let’s take a deep dive into the devastating effects of these disruptions, with a detailed look at the chaos unfolding at major U.S. airports. Buckle up, because this is one wild ride!

Chicago Airports: O’Hare and Midway Hit Hard by Shutdown and Snowstorm

O’Hare Airport in Chicago, one of the largest and busiest in the U.S., faced unimaginable disruption during the Thanksgiving 2025 period. The FAA imposed flight reductions due to the government shutdown, forcing airlines to slash flights by 10%. This led to a shocking wave of cancellations and delays, hitting O’Hare the hardest. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, when 52,000 flights were expected nationwide, delays were already surging. LaGuardia in New York reported 105 delays, and JFK had over 100, but Chicago’s O’Hare saw its fair share of the damage too.

But that was just the start. On November 29, a major winter storm slammed the region, dropping heavy snow and creating an absolute disaster at O’Hare and Midway. With more than 900 flights cancelled and 785 delays, the chaos was beyond belief. To add insult to injury, a ground stop was initiated at O’Hare, halting flights for hours. Travelers were left stranded, struggling to get home amid the nightmare. Chicago wasn’t alone in this chaos, as airports in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Des Moines, and other nearby cities faced widespread disruptions .

Dallas-Fort Worth: Thunderstorms and Shutdown Cut Flights, Shattering Thanksgiving Plans

Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) was not spared from the chaos either. Severe thunderstorms in Texas on November 24 wreaked havoc, leading to over 580 delays and 96 cancellations at DFW. The situation at Love Field was equally grim, with 92 delays and 69 cancellations. While the FAA flight reductions started on November 6, affecting 10% of all flights, DFW still saw its busiest day on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Airlines urged passengers to arrive hours before their flights, but with delays and cancellations piling up, it was clear that no one was going to make it through the holiday unscathed .

Atlanta: Rain Delays and an Overwhelming Crowds Nightmare

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), known for being the world’s busiest airport, struggled immensely with heavy rain on November 25. Despite the FAA staffing recovery, the rain caused an overwhelming 879 delays and a handful of cancellations. By the time November 26 rolled around, delays were down to just 75, but the damage was already done. A sea of travelers swarmed the airport, with over 4 million expected to travel through ATL during the Thanksgiving period. Despite efforts to ease congestion, the massive passenger numbers, coupled with lingering delays, made for a travel nightmare .

Houston: Weather Woes and TSA Shutdown Wreak Havoc on Travel Plans

Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Hobby Airport (HOU) were not immune to the chaos. With over 2.1 million travelers expected to pass through Houston airports during the Thanksgiving period, the pressure was on. On top of the usual Thanksgiving chaos, travelers were warned of potential delays caused by storms and packed terminals. The government shutdown further complicated matters as TSA checkpoints were re-opened and staffing levels returned to pre-shutdown standards.

Despite all efforts to ease congestion, Houston’s airports weren’t ready for the stormy conditions and the heavy holiday traffic. The new Terminal E at IAH and expanded curbs helped, but for many travelers, the damage was already done. Crowd management efforts saw 15 additional police officers deployed to control the mayhem .

Phoenix: Mild Weather Masks the Underlying Chaos

At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), the weather was relatively mild compared to other airports, but that didn’t mean things were smooth sailing. On Wednesday, November 26, FlightAware reported 101 delays and one cancellation. Mesa Gateway, a smaller nearby airport, experienced no delays or cancellations, but Phoenix Sky Harbor was clearly feeling the strain. With more than 500 flight delays reported across the weekend, travelers were warned to prepare for the worst .

Seattle: A Pipeline Leak Adds Fuel to the Fire

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) faced one of the most bizarre disruptions in 2025 due to an Olympic Pipeline leak, which caused a jet fuel shortage. The leak forced the pipeline to shut down, threatening to halt all flight operations at SEA. Though the pipeline was partially reopened just in time, Delta and Alaska Airlines had to scramble to arrange extra fuel stops to prevent the airport from running out of fuel. With over 900,000 travelers expected to pass through SEA, it was a disaster waiting to happen. Add to that the ongoing concerns about the government shutdown, and you have one of the most chaotic airports of the entire Thanksgiving period .

San Francisco and the Bay Area: Reductions and Cancellations Galore

In the San Francisco Bay Area, SFO, OAK, SJC, and SMF were all impacted by the FAA’s flight reductions. On November 24, SFO saw 114 delays and three cancellations, with United Airlines taking the biggest hit. OAK had 33 delays, most of them involving Southwest Airlines flights. Meanwhile, San Jose and Sacramento airports also experienced a large number of delays, including 45 delays at SJC and 70 delays at SMF .

In the aftermath of the disruptions, travelers were warned to brace themselves for more delays as the FAA limit on flights remained in effect. More than 900 flights were cancelled over the weekend, causing even more frustration for travelers .

Conclusion: A Thanksgiving 2025 to Forget

The Thanksgiving 2025 travel season was a disaster. From Chicago’s snowstorm to Dallas’ thunderstorms and Seattle’s jet fuel shortage, passengers were left at the mercy of weather, staffing shortages, and government shutdowns. Major airports like O’Hare, Logan, LAX, and ATL were brought to their knees under the pressure of unprecedented flight reductions, weather events, and surging passenger numbers.

As the FAA continues to struggle with staffing issues and airports are flooded with record-breaking traffic, future holiday travelers are advised to prepare for the worst. Monitor real-time airport status, check weather forecasts, and plan for delays and cancellations. Thanksgiving 2025 has shown that even the most prepared passengers can be caught in the chaos.