U.S. airlines are preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with a significant increase in scheduled flights. Over 360,000 flights are expected between November 24 and December 2, with peak activity on Thanksgiving Day, when more than 52,000 flights are projected. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indicated it is ready to handle this surge after implementing operational adjustments over recent weeks.
According to data from OAG Schedules Analyser, domestic capacity for the week will reach approximately 20.33 million seats, slightly higher than last year and substantially increased from 2019 levels. Southwest Airlines leads the market with about 21.7% of seats, followed by American Airlines, Delta, United, and Alaska Airlines. Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines has reduced its schedule from last year, reflecting ongoing restructuring efforts.
Major Airports and Routes
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) will have the highest number of outbound seats at around 1.01 million, followed by Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, and Phoenix. Chicago O’Hare (ORD) will have the most departures, with over 7,000 scheduled flights, surpassing Atlanta.
The busiest route during this period will be Los Angeles to Chicago O’Hare, with 56,265 two-way seats, followed by routes such as Honolulu to Kahului and Denver to Los Angeles.
Operational Adjustments and System Readiness
The buildup to the holiday occurs after a period of volatility in the National Airspace System. Recent government actions allowing airlines to reinstate flights followed a shutdown that caused staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Staffing-trigger events, which previously peaked at 81, have declined sharply, with only a single incident recorded on Nov. 16. The FAA and other agencies have reassessed and lifted schedule cuts as staffing levels stabilize, aiming to ensure smooth holiday operations.
