A combination of winter storms, airport strikes, and record-breaking travel volume threatens to disrupt Thanksgiving plans for millions of Americans this week, with experts warning the journey home could prove particularly challenging.
Nearly 80 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between Tuesday and Monday, while airports expect 18.3 million passengers, a 6% increase from last year.
“This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske confirmed.
Two major storm systems are complicating travel plans. T
he West faces immediate challenges, with the Sierra Nevada expecting up to 4 feet of snow and 55mph wind gusts through Tuesday. The East Coast and Northeast will see significant impacts on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, with rain and snow affecting major travel corridors.
“The system doesn’t look like a powerhouse right now,” said Hayden Frank, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Massachusetts. “Basically, this is going to bring rain to the I-95 corridor so travelers should prepare for wet weather.”
Adding to the complications, service workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the nation’s ninth-busiest, began a strike Monday morning.
“We’re on strike today because this is our last resort. We can’t keep living like this,” said ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle. Workers earning between $12.50 and $19 per hour are demanding better wages during the airport’s busiest season ever, with 1.02 million passengers expected to be impacted.
Road travelers face their own challenges, with Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons projected as peak congestion periods.
“We do recommend, [on] Tuesday and Wednesday try to leave early in the morning, the afternoon hours are the worst,” advised AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz.
Post-holiday travel could be particularly problematic, with a Thanksgiving Day storm system bringing snow from Iowa to Maine.
Major hubs including Syracuse, Buffalo, and Binghamton could see significant winter weather along the I-81 and I-90 corridors.
Since Friday, over 17,000 flights have already faced delays or cancellations due to weather conditions, with more disruptions expected as the holiday approaches.
The late November 28 Thanksgiving date could create additional pressure as travelers compress their return journeys into Monday and Tuesday of next week.