The Best and Worst Times to Travel This Thanksgiving
Navigate the holiday chaos by choosing your travel time wisely. Thanksgiving travel is challenging even in normal years, but 2025 brings an additional difficulty: a government shutdown exceeding eight weeks, impacting those who keep the nation’s airports running.
Current Travel Conditions
Tens of thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA agents are working without pay, leading to increasing absences. The FAA has mandated a 10% cut in air traffic across 40 major airports as a safety precaution. This reduction will likely cause longer lines and slower operations on the tarmac.
Potential Impact on Thanksgiving Travel
If the shutdown continues through the holiday, experts predict widespread disruptions that could escalate routine delays into major airport breakdowns.
“Delays and cancellations beget delays and cancellations,” said aviation analyst William J.
Unlike the 2018 shutdown, this one leaves workers two paychecks behind by the time Thanksgiving arrives, adding further strain to the system.
Stay Informed
To stay ahead of travel disruptions, sign up for newsletters offering updates on conditions, news, events, and offers related to your destination.
By subscribing, you agree to receive communications regarding news, events, and promotions from travel sources.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or casual?