It’s the one day a year everyone in the USA stops to give thanks. It’s also the busiest day for airlines as millions of Americans travel back home to be with their loved ones.
In true Thanksgiving style, around 3.61 million people will try to get on a plane this Thanksgiving holiday (up from two million in 2009), giving airlines a whole lot of extra work.
Travellers are being warned to expect flight delays and potential cancellations not only due to increased passenger demand but unpredictable weather. Around 70 percent of all flight delays this holiday are expected to be from poor weather.
Additionally, those travelling through the US have been advised to get to the airport a little earlier than usual to ensure they pass through extra security in time for their flight.
According to AAA’s holiday travel forecast, the gateway expected to experience the most delays this holiday will be Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport – the busiest US airport.
The report said over the past three years the airport has had around delays to around 40 percent of flights during the Thanksgiving week.
Nine of the 11 worst routes in the past three years included O’Hare, which is largely thanks to the weather that frequently befalls the Windy City, says AirHelp co-founder Nicolas Michaelsen.
The most delayed flight for Thanksgiving over the last three years was the San Francisco to Chicago flight followed by Los Angeles to Chicago and Denver to Chicago.
Also making the top five delayed services was the Houston to Chicago route and the San Francisco to Dallas/Fort Worth.