As a result of the harsh winter weather, thousands of flights were disrupted across the United States during Thanksgiving week, with cold temperatures expected to persist throughout the holiday season. By 10:25 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, a total of 935 flights were delayed and 54 flights were canceled for the day.
Flight disruptions came at a peak time for Thanksgiving travel. On Monday, winter storms and warnings were in effect in various regions in the United States. According to data from FlightAware, over 4,200 flights were delayed on Monday, with an additional 68 flights canceled.
The most severely affected area was San Francisco International Airport, where 500 flights were delayed and 26 flights were canceled. Los Angeles International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport also experienced significant flight delays and cancellations.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicted a record-breaking 5.84 million people traveling domestically by air during this holiday season, a nearly 11% increase from 2019, in a statement released on November 18.
The organization anticipated a total of 80 million travelers during Thanksgiving, including those on the road, in the air, and others. AAA stated that this number surpasses pre-COVID-19 figures and sets a new record.
The National Weather Service in the United States forecasted an Arctic blast over Thanksgiving weekend, with frigid temperatures impacting most parts of the country.
The agency cautioned of potential travel-disrupting weather from Friday to Sunday.