Thanksgiving travel expected to soar to new records

Holiday travel is expected to soar over pre-pandemic levels, reaching nearly 80 million total travelers for the Thanksgiving week.

“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and AAA continues to see demand soar post-pandemic as Americans reconnect with family and friends and seek memorable trips to new destinations,” said Mark Schieldrop, Senior Spokesperson for AAA Northeast.

The auto club forecast nearly 80 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more between Tuesday and next Monday, an increase of 1.7 million people from last year and 2 million more than 2019. Just over 70 million are expected to travel by car, packing roads across the country.

In Massachusetts, drivers will see gas prices up just a penny over last week for holiday travel, reaching $3.02 a gallon, according to AAA. That remains 4 cents lower than a month ago and 38 cents lower than this day last year, following national trends.

Across the nation, the average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon Monday, down 20 cents at this time last year.

“Prices have been relatively steady thanks to stable supplies here in the United States, but increased travel demand and international factors can easily disrupt the balance,” said Schieldrop.

The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024.

The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next-busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week.

“This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Fortunately, our staffing is also at the highest levels that they have ever been. We are ready.”

Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel.

With more time before the holiday, people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines.

“A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said.

U.S. flights appeared to running relatively normally on Monday, with fewer than 40 canceled but more than 1,600 delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware.