What a difference a week makes!
Last Monday we were coming off one of the most chaotic weekends at airports in several years, due to the government shutdown. massive flight cancellations – and a lot of concern about Thanksgiving travel.
It’s safe to say things are looking up now, with Turkey Day just 10 days away.
Earlier Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration stopped requiring airlines to cancel flights at 40 of the country’s largest airports.
The move came amid a “steady decline in staffing concerns” at air traffic control facilities across the country, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said.
During the shutdown, air traffic controllers worked without pay and workers increasingly protested that the government did not reopen for weeks. This caused flight disruptions across the country and led the FAA to limit the number of flights airlines could operate.
But like him reopened governmentThings improved quickly at the airports.
Last weekend, air travel was dramatically smoother than the previous weekend of Nov. 8-9, when passengers faced hours-long traffic jams on taxiways, mounting cancellations and sleepless nights in airport terminals.
Airlines were allowed to return to flying on a full schedule starting at 6 a.m. EST on Monday.
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And it didn’t come a moment too soon: As of Friday, airlines expect to welcome a record 31 million passengers to airports for the Thanksgiving season, a trade group for the largest airlines said this month.
‘All systems go’ for Thanksgiving
Some industry insiders feared that travelers might run into some Persistent closure issues.
However, early figures point to a significant rebound in air travel, something that could bode well for the holidays.
| Date | FAA alerts due to lack of air traffic control personnel |
|---|---|
| Saturday November 8 | 81* |
| Sunday November 16 | 1* |
*Source: FAA.
On Sunday, cancellation rates at many of the largest U.S. airports were in line with those of a normal travel weekend.
| Date | Percentage of flights canceled on US airlines |
|---|---|
| January 1 to September 30 (before closure) | 1.6** |
| From October 1 to 30 (early closing) | 1.3** |
| October 31 to November 10 (late closing) | 3.2** |
**Source: FlightAware.
Flexible travel exemptions end
As operations returned to normal, airlines, as expected, began removing flexible travel waivers that allowed customers more freedom to make ticket changes and obtain refunds during the closure.
Travel waivers on Delta Air Lines and United Airlines ended Sunday. The American Airlines advisory also came to an end.
Refund rules are still in effect
Of course, customers still have rights.
All passengers are you are owed a refund if they choose not to travel after a cancellation or significant delay.
But he Additional flexibility available to consumers during the shutdown, for the most part, has come to an end before the holidays.
Thanksgiving Travel 2025: What to Know
Despite the rosier outlook for Thanksgiving, it’s wise to be prepared for the unexpected.
Mother Nature can always ruin vacation travelers’ plans, especially if a severe weather system hits the congested Northeast.
And keep in mind: the FAA still has a long-term air traffic control staffing shortage that can cause flight delays on any given day (especially during bad weather).
Use your airline’s app
If I had plans to travel for Thanksgiving, I would continue to keep an eye on my airline’s app for any signs of flight problems. This is key to rebooking and getting your trip back on track if problems arise.
Save time with TSA PreCheck
if you have TSA Precheck access, make sure your Known traveler number It is attached to your reservation. Also, sign up for the superfast TSA PreCheck Contactless ID initiative through your airline profile if you fly from participating airports.
Read more: What to do if a boarding pass is not marked as TSA PreCheck
All travelers can monitor wait times at checkpoints using the MyTSA app, which should be operational again once the closure is over.
Plan ahead for the busiest day at airports
Finally, plan to arrive at the airport early, especially if you are flying on Sunday, November 30. Typically, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year.
Any apprehensions among travelers?
During the holidays, it’s worth watching to see if crowds will subside after closing. in a recent TPG survey with YouGovA large portion of travelers reported that they had canceled, rebooked or reconsidered their holiday travel plans as a result of the recent chaos.
Airlines in trouble?
Could airlines be in trouble for running too smooth an operation?
Sure, passengers were happy to see air travel return to (somewhat) normal last weekend.
However, the numbers were so good at some airports that they are raising eyebrows in Washington, DC.
Over the weekend, the Trump administration was still technically require airlines to cancel 3% of flights at 40 major hubs as part of a gradual return to full flight schedules.
However, according to FlightAware data, cancellation rates did not even reach 1% at many large airports, suggesting that some airlines did not cancel as many flights as assumed.
The FAA said Sunday that it was “aware of reports of noncompliance” by airlines and was “reviewing and evaluating enforcement options.”
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