Thanksgiving week airport volume surpasses pre-pandemic level for first time as 55M brace for travel

AdvertisementMillions of Thanksgiving travelers brace for a major storm to slide across the US this week as travel reaches higher than pre-pandemic levels. Despite the demand, airlines are reportedly operating with 15 percent fewer flights this week than in 2019, according to Cirium. Coupled with inflation driving up jet fuel prices, customers can expect travel chaos. Following the holiday storm, the Great Lakes can expect to have colder conditions and gusty winds that could bring more snow. United Airlines said last week it expects to carry 5.5 million passengers during the Thanksgiving travel period, up about 12 percent from 2021.