Airlines prepare for heavy US Thanksgiving holiday traffic after shutdown • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Government Shutdown Impact on Travel: The 43-day government shutdown, the longest in US history, significantly affected air travel, leading to reduced operations and a dip in flight bookings.
• Thanksgiving Travel Outlook: Despite the shutdown's impact, airlines and experts anticipate a strong Thanksgiving travel week, potentially with record numbers of travelers.
• Airline Adjustments: Airlines like United, Southwest, and American Airlines have increased flights and seats to accommodate anticipated demand.
• Weather Disruptions: Potential weather challenges, including freezing temperatures and high winds, could impact travel in the Midwest and Northeast.

Government Shutdown and Air Travel

The longest government shutdown in US history, lasting 43 days, had a direct impact on air traffic controllers and TSA agents who worked without pay or called in sick. This resulted in a reduction of traffic out of 40 major airports. Despite this disruption, federal authorities are expressing confidence as the shutdown has concluded. They anticipate a "very happy to be back" and "extraordinarily successful week of travel for the literally tens of millions of Americans that will be flying this week."

Impact on Flight Bookings and Airline Strategies

The uncertainty caused by the shutdown led to a decrease in flight bookings. As of Monday, bookings had fallen by almost 5% compared to the previous year. However, airlines are expecting a surge in last-minute bookings. To address this anticipated demand, United and Southwest Airlines have both increased the number of flights and seats available compared to 2024 figures. American Airlines, in particular, announced it will operate over 80,000 flights, an increase from 2024, positioning it as having the "biggest schedule of any airline worldwide" according to their press release.

Expert Opinions on Thanksgiving Travel

Experts concur that the upcoming 5-day Thanksgiving holiday will see a significant influx of travelers at airports. One expert stated, "I don't think that the shutdown will have any truly meaningful impact on the number of people traveling this Thanksgiving." Furthermore, there is a possibility of "some record days of of travel during Thanksgiving" based on current projections.

Potential Weather Disruptions

Despite optimistic travel forecasts, adverse weather conditions pose a potential threat to travel plans. Freezing temperatures and high winds are predicted to affect the northern Midwest and Northeast regions of the country, which could lead to travel interruptions.

Conclusion

The 43-day government shutdown caused immediate disruptions to air travel, including reduced airport operations and a dip in flight bookings. However, with the shutdown over, federal authorities and airlines are optimistic about the upcoming Thanksgiving travel week. Airlines have proactively increased capacity, and experts anticipate strong traveler numbers, potentially reaching record levels. The primary concern for travelers now lies with potential weather disruptions in the Midwest and Northeast.