During the Thanksgiving period, traditionally one of the busiest travel seasons of the year in the United States, the number of people traveling by plane was expected to hit record highs. However, the 43-day government shutdown has suppressed the demand.
According to data from the aviation analysis company Cirium, as of November 24, flight bookings during the five-day holiday period had decreased by 4.48% compared to the same period last year. While there was a 1.56% increase in bookings on October 31, the numbers have been on a continuous decline since then.
Reuters reported that the impact of the government shutdown might extend into the Christmas period.
During the government shutdown, flight cancellations and delays continued to increase. Even after the shutdown, many cautious travelers still have lingering concerns.
Elizabeth Kelley, 45, had initially planned to visit her family in Maine over Thanksgiving during the government shutdown but cancelled her trip due to fears of flight delays or cancellations. Her worries have not subsided till now.
She said, “It’s so anxiety-inducing, the stress is immense, and worrying about all the possibilities, feeling trapped, what am I supposed to do?”
On Monday, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated during a press conference at Newark Airport that passengers should maintain their confidence.
He said, “For us, this week is our Super Bowl, I can tell you we have put together a great plan, please rest assured, everything will go smoothly.”
However, he reminded travelers to be prepared for busy airports and potential weather issues.
FAA stated that this year’s Thanksgiving travel peak is expected to be the busiest in 15 years, with Tuesday, November 25, projected to have the highest number of passengers.
Some airlines anticipate a gradual recovery in passenger confidence and are planning to handle last-minute booking surges.
United Airlines expects to transport approximately 6.6 million passengers in the next 13 days, marking the highest number of passengers transported by the airline during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
American Airlines will operate nearly 81,000 flights during the same period, up from 77,000 flights in 2024.
Delta Air Lines plans to transport about 6.5 million passengers, similar to last year.
Southwest Airlines mentioned that the government shutdown and uncertain economic conditions have made predicting Thanksgiving demand challenging.
Many air travelers are planning to avoid major hub airports. As the busiest airport in the United States, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is expected to see a 7.6% decrease in Thanksgiving passengers.
Amtrak reported that this year’s train passenger numbers are expected to reach historic highs, with 1.2 million Americans booking train tickets through the company last year. Demand for bus and train tickets through the booking platform Wanderu saw a 17% annual increase, with bus bookings showing the most significant growth.
【This article referenced reports from Reuters】