Friday’s nationwide ground stop could not have come at a worse moment for families who have already booked Thanksgiving trips. For more than four hours, the Federal Aviation Administration halted departures across the country after its air traffic communications system was overloaded. Thousands of flights were canceled, and recovery was still underway Saturday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he expects the system to be “back up and operational” before the Thanksgiving rush, ABC News reported. Even so, Friday was a reminder that holiday travel works best with a plan B. Here is what the numbers say about this year’s rush, and how to prepare.
A crowded, expensive Thanksgiving in the air
Airlines for America projects nearly 29 million people will fly over the Thanksgiving break, ABC7 Los Angeles reported on November 11. Travel-booking app Hopper said there are about 2.2% more flights scheduled than a year ago, but domestic round-trip fares are up 39% from 2025, the highest for Thanksgiving in at least a decade.
- Busiest day to fly: Sunday, November 29, according to Hopper data. American Airlines has scheduled 7,021 flights that day, its biggest operating day since the pandemic.
- Busiest pre-holiday day: United Airlines expects more than 540,000 customers on Friday, November 20, and about 600,000 on Sunday, November 29.
- Busiest airports: Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth, each with more than 2 million seats scheduled between November 21 and December 1.
- Trains: Amtrak expects record ridership and is adding Northeast Corridor capacity from November 20 to 30, plus extra Washington–New York trains on November 24–25 and 28–29.
What Friday’s ground stop taught travelers
The ground stop began at 3:54 p.m. ET Friday and was lifted at 8:15 p.m., according to ABC News and Al Jazeera. FlightRadar24 counted more than 4,700 cancellations and 10,000 delays on Friday, with about 700 more Saturday cancellations already on the books, Al Jazeera reported. Officials said there was no sign of a cyberattack and blamed aging equipment. An aviation safety expert told Al Jazeera that rescheduling planes and crews can take more than a day, especially at big connecting hubs.
A family travel checklist for Thanksgiving
- Fly early in the day. Morning flights have more chances to be rebooked if something goes wrong later.
- Avoid tight connections. When delays ripple through hubs, a 45-minute layover can disappear. Nonstop flights are worth a look even at a higher price.
- Download your airline’s app and turn on alerts. Rebooking is often fastest in the app, before lines form at the counter.
- Pack a carry-on survival kit. Medications, chargers, snacks, a change of clothes for kids and any comfort items. Checked bags can be stuck when flights are canceled.
- Know the backup. For trips under about six hours by car, compare driving or the train. Amtrak is adding seats in the Northeast.
- Watch the budget. With fares this high, many families are cutting elsewhere. Our story on holiday gift budgets shows how many households are feeling the squeeze.
Weather is the other wild card. Cold air is settling over much of the country this month, so build in time for de-icing and slower roads. Our first freeze checklist has tips for leaving your home ready while you are away.
Upstormed News will follow the FAA investigation and what it means for holiday travel.
Read more: 81% of Parents Say Holiday Traditions Matter, but Many Skip Them
Are you flying, driving or staying home this Thanksgiving? Tell us in the comments.
Sources: ABC7 Los Angeles, “Thanksgiving travel: Record number of travelers expected to fly, take trains, drive” (November 11, 2026); ABC News, “Nationwide ground stop lifted after more than 4 hours” (November 13, 2026); Al Jazeera, “FAA ground stop lifted: Why were US flights grounded, and what’s next?” (November 14, 2026)
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