Travel
Record-breaking levels of travelers expected on flights, roadways for Thanksgiving in 2024
Willie Bird sold by Williams Sonoma fly via UPS delivery to homes
The “Flight of the Willie Birds” is underway as UPS and Williams Sonoma ship over 10,000 turkeys across the U.S. for Thanksgiving. See the process.
Video courtesy of UPS
Nearly 80 million people are expected to travel more than 50 miles for Thanksgiving week and it could mark the busiest year for the holiday yet across various travel types, according to data from AAA.
Whether that’s by car or by plane, many prefer to travel to be with family for the holiday, and with a heightened number of travelers, it’s possible to see increased traffic when heading out for Thanksgiving plans, requiring some planning ahead and safety precautions.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” Vice President of AAA Travel Stacey Barber said. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
Here’s what we know about travel numbers for Thanksgiving and staying safe for the holiday.
Louisville airport to see nearly 44,000 travelers for Thanksgiving
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport spokesperson Natalie Chaudoin said nearly 44,000 passengers are departing on varying airline flights from Tuesday through Sunday. Wednesday is expected to be the busiest with more than 9,800 departing seats scheduled, and the most inbound flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, both at more than 9,800.
The 2023 calendar year marks the busiest thus far at SDF, with a passenger record continuing to be set nearly every month at the airport, Chaudoin said. Thanksgiving is also anticipated as a busy travel period and follows a large influx of tourists to the area for events like the 150th Kentucky Derby and PGA Championship in May.
Officials encourage roadway safety on Thanksgiving
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety is asking drivers to “buckle up and put the phone down” this Thanksgiving. On average, more than 40,000 crashes resulting in more than 11,000 injuries and 150 deaths occur annually in Kentucky because of distracted driving, according to a news release from the office. Distracted driving has also become one of the leading causes of crashes nationally in the past decade.
“With more travelers and pedestrians on and near our roadways visiting loved ones for the holidays, I’m asking everyone to make the safe choice by staying alert, buckling up and putting the phone down,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “These simple actions can help us keep each other safe, whether we’re behind the wheel or walking nearby.”
Car, and air traffic could set records for 2024 Thanksgiving Week, AAA says
AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast projects 2024 to exceed pre-pandemic numbers and set records in travel categories. With 71.7 million people expected to travel by car over Thanksgiving, vehicle traffic could exceed last year’s by an additional 1.3 million travelers. Gas prices are also substantially lower compared to 2023, falling below $3 for the first time since 2021. Last year, a gallon of gas averaged $3.26.
Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a new record with 5.84 million people predicted to fly domestically, marking a 2% increase from last year and a nearly 11% increase since 2019. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, partially because costs are down, and nearly 2.3 million are expected to travel by other modes like boat or train, a 9% increase from 2023.
TSA prepares for ‘busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record’
The Transportation Security Administration is preparing for its “busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record” in the airports from Tuesday to next Monday, with projections to screen 18.3 million people in the time frame, a 6% increase from last year, according to a news release from the agency.
The busiest days are expected to be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday. According to the agency’s estimates, more than 2.8 million people are expected to be screened Tuesday, 2.9 million on Wednesday and more than 3 million on Sunday.
“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Working alongside our airport and airline partners and the FAA, we have optimized staffing and will do our best to maintain our wait time standards … [and] I am extremely grateful for our dedicated employees across the agency who continue to remain vigilant and focused on the mission to ensure security of our transportation systems and keep the traveling public safe.”
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