Washington, Nov 25 (NationPress) U.S. airlines are gearing up with additional aircraft and personnel as they brace for an unprecedented surge in Thanksgiving air travel, all while the industry continues to rebound from a lengthy government shutdown, staffing shortages, and looming winter weather.

According to Airlines for America, which represents both passenger and cargo airlines, approximately 31 million travelers are expected to take to the skies between November 21 and December 1, setting a new record for Thanksgiving travel. The Federal Aviation Administration has declared this period as the busiest holiday travel time in 15 years, with airlines planning over 360,000 flights from Monday through the following Tuesday.

As travel picks up, security measures will be under significant pressure. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening 17.8 million individuals from November 25 to December 2, with a potential record-breaking single-day total exceeding 3 million on Sunday, December 1.

The major airports, including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, and Denver, are expected to experience heavy traffic. Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport, is still recovering from a recent storm that forced the evacuation of its control tower, rendering operations stalled for nearly an hour.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged passengers to arrive well in advance, enable app notifications, and, as he puts it, “dress respectfully and treat one another with kindness” amid crowded flights and heightened tensions.

Airlines are working diligently to restore their full flight schedules after caps imposed during the shutdown significantly reduced the number of available flights and exacerbated existing staffing issues.

While the FAA assures that control towers will be adequately staffed, the aviation system faces new challenges, including heavy snowfall in the Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest, torrential rain in Tennessee and the Northeast, sporadic technical issues, and limited fuel availability at certain airports.

Airlines caution that the real challenge will come on the return trip. Sunday, December 1, is projected to be the busiest air travel day of 2025, with nearly all available seats already booked on key routes.