A crowded security checkpoint at Denver International Airport on November 22, days before Thanksgiving.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Updated November 27, 2022 at 5:05 PM ET
Thousands of flights were delayed — and a number of others canceled — across airports in the United States on one of the busiest travel days of the year. More than 4,200 flights were delayed and another 109 canceled as of Sunday afternoon, according to FlightAware, with numbers continuing to climb.
The flight cancellations and delays come during a period of chaotic travel said to resemble pre-pandemic levels. Airlines and airport staff were preparing as an estimated 4.5 million Americans were expected to fly this Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA.
In preparation for the holiday rush, earlier this month the Transportation Security Administration announced it would cut the cost of enrolling into TSA PreCheck, a program that gives passengers access to expedited lines.
Airports are also warning travelers about delays and other disruptions to their travel.
"We can't stress this enough — plan ahead and arrive early," New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport tweeted on Sunday. "Budget extra travel time to arrive at JFK Airport, park in your reserved spot, check in, and get through security."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Dear Reader,
For more than 100 years, OPB has offered reliable news and connection. Through wildfires, elections and economic downturns, OPB has been there to inform and connect our communities. Today, journalism faces new obstacles.
But this work is only possible because of people like you — readers who turn to articles like this and continue to engage with independent journalism in our community. If OPB has been a part of your life, if it has helped you see your community or the world more clearly, please consider making a contribution today.
— The OPB Team
Please select an amount to give. Your contribution ensures that fact-based reporting, cultural connection, and stories that strengthen our community remain freely available to everyone.
