Thanksgiving travel: Record number of travelers expected to fly, take trains, drive this Thanksgiving holiday

Holiday Travel Thanksgiving travel forecast: Record number of travelers expected to fly, take trains American and United Airlines say they're expecting millions of flying customers. Travel forecast released as millions still plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday despite high gas prices. WPVI By Clara McMichael and Yi-Jin Yu Wednesday, November 11, 2026 12:32PM Share Follow ABC7 on Google With Thanksgiving two weeks away, the holiday travel rush is starting to gear up. Despite high gasoline and jet fuel prices amid the ongoing war with Iran, millions of Americans still plan to take to the skies, road and rails this Thanksgiving. According to travel company Hopper, about 2.2% more flights are scheduled this Thanksgiving than this period last year, even though airfare prices are the highest they've been for Thanksgiving in at least 10 years, with domestic roundtrip fares up 39% from 2025 and international fares up as much as 30%. Airlines for America, a trade association and lobbying group representing major North American airlines, projects nearly 29 million people will travel over Thanksgiving break this year. Apple employee charged with murder after crashing into car at nearly 100 mph killing toddler Capitola Beach closed after 9 children sickened by E. coli outbreak: health officials Nima Momeni sentenced to 16 years to life for killing Cash App founder Bob Lee Airlines are expecting the Sunday after Thanksgiving to be the busiest day to travel, with millions of travelers expected to fly on Nov. 29, according to Hopper data. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will be the busiest airports, with more than 2 million seats scheduled at each airport between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1. American Airlines said in a press release Monday that it is expecting an especially busy travel season this Thanksgiving: More than 8 million customers are expected to fly on 85,000 American flights between Nov. 19 and Dec. 1, with an average of one flight taking off every 13 seconds. According to the airline, 7,021 flights are scheduled for Nov. 29 alone, marking the carrier's "largest operating day since the pandemic." United Airlines said it is also anticipating more than 500,000 customers a day, flying on more than 4,800 daily flights during the same Nov. 19 through Dec. 1 period. Ahead of Thanksgiving, United expects its busiest day to be Friday, Nov. 20, with an expectation of more than 540,000 flying customers, which will then increase post-holiday to approximately 600,000 customers flying on Sunday, Nov. 29, the carrier told ABC News. On the rails, Amtrak is also expecting a record number of passengers and is advising customers to book tickets early. The national rail service said it is adding more capacity along its popular Northeast Corridor route from Nov. 20-30 and will add two more roundtrip trains on the Washington, D.C., to New York City route between Nov. 24-25 and Nov. 28-29. Report a correction or typo Copyright © 2026 ABC News Internet Ventures. Related Topics TRAVEL HOLIDAY TRAVEL THANKSGIVING U.S. & WORLD AIR TRAVEL HOLIDAY TRAFFIC JetBlue raises baggage fees for a second time as jet fuel prices stay elevated SFO runway reopens ahead of schedule: Does this mean fewer delays? Labor Day traffic and travel: Busiest times to drive and fly 4th of July travel: Busiest days to fly and drive Live Streams ON NOW Apple employee charged with murder after crash that killed toddler Capitola Beach closed after 9 kids sickened by E. coli: officials Nima Momeni sentenced for killing Cash App founder Bob Lee Storm to bring rain, dangerous surf to Bay Area 49ers/Raiders fans ejected, arrested after fights at Levi's Stadium SF installs flood barriers along waterfront ahead of winter storms San Jose Sea Lions unveiled as CA's 1st pro women's hockey team Search called off for Bay Area woman swept into ocean near Santa Cruz