Americans embarking on their festive journeys home have been met with severe travel disruption, as major airports nationwide grapple with a cascade of flight cancellations and extensive delays. The situation has created havoc for travellers from New York to Los Angeles who are striving to reach their families in time for Christmas celebrations.
Record-Breaking Holiday Travel Numbers
This season has set a new benchmark for holiday travel volume. According to the latest forecast from the American Automobile Association (AAA), a staggering 122.4 million Americans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the 13-day festive period between 20 December and 1 January. This figure represents a 2.2 percent increase compared to 2024 and marks the highest number of travellers in the past 15 years.
The vast majority, approximately 109.5 million people, are expected to complete their journeys by road. However, air travel has also seen a significant surge. Roughly 8.03 million Americans are set to board domestic flights, a 2.3 percent rise from the previous year. AAA emphasised the milestone, stating: 'This will be the first time on record that the number of domestic air travellers over the year-end holiday period exceeds 8 million.'
Widespread Airport Disruption and Delays
The forecasted congestion has already materialised into significant airport mayhem in the days leading up to the holiday. Data from the tracking service FlightAware paints a stark picture of the disruptions.
On Tuesday, there were more than 2,800 delays for flights entering, leaving, or operating within the United States, alongside roughly 80 outright cancellations. The preceding Monday, noted as one of the worst travel days of the year, was even more severe, with over 6,000 delayed trips and more than 730 cancellations.
An analysis by AAA identifies the route from New Jersey to Fort Lauderdale as the most problematic for holiday travel. This was corroborated by the experience of one traveller at New York's LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) on Monday, whose early morning flight to Fort Lauderdale was cancelled. 'We're over here in the process of rebooking with different airlines and trying to get back home for the holidays,' she told Fox 5. 'It can be quite aggravating at times.' Data from FlightAware24 indicates that flights on this route last December averaged a 37-minute delay.
Airports Experiencing Significant Ground Delays
As of Tuesday afternoon, multiple airports across the country were contending with official ground and departure delays issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO): An average delay of 80 minutes due to high winds, with gusts expected to reach 55 mph.
- San Diego International Airport (SAN): Average 15-minute delays, expected to worsen due to airspace capacity constraints.
- Southwest Florida International (RSW) & Miami International (MIA): Departures delayed by approximately 15 minutes due to air traffic management initiatives.
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Average 15-minute delays, anticipated to increase because of high flight volume and wintry conditions including ice and snow.
Regional Impact and Passenger Volumes
The surge in travellers has placed immense pressure on airports in the New York and New Jersey region. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey estimates that about 5.7 million passengers will pass through John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), and Stewart International (SWF) airports during the two-week holiday travel window.
The combination of record passenger numbers, adverse weather conditions, and systemic capacity constraints has created a perfect storm for holiday travel disruption. Authorities continue to advise passengers to check their flight status frequently and allow for extra time at airports as the busy period continues.
