The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cautioned that air traffic may experience slowdowns during what is expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker highlighted staffing shortages, particularly in the Northeast, as a primary challenge.
New York airspace is a key concern, where demand for air traffic controllers has outpaced the agency’s hiring capacity. To mitigate the issue, responsibility for Newark-area air traffic was recently shifted to Philadelphia, where a “strong pipeline” of certified controller trainees is now in place.
The busiest travel day is anticipated to be Tuesday, November 26, with the FAA prepared to implement traffic flow management strategies if needed. Whitaker emphasized that safety remains the top priority: “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe.”
Weather, another major factor in delays, will also be closely monitored. Despite efforts to improve operations, the agency is still 3,000 controllers short as of earlier this year, though recent hires have bolstered capacity.
Airlines are bracing for record numbers, with over 31 million passengers expected to fly on U.S. carriers between November 22 and December 2—a 5% increase from last year. The busiest travel days are projected to be Wednesday, November 27, and Sunday, December 1, each expected to see over 3 million passengers.
With demand soaring and potential delays looming, travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and remain flexible during this high-traffic holiday season.
