Travel Flash Report

TRAVEL FLASH - November 21, 2025

Breaking: FAA Lifts All Flight Restrictions at 40 Major U.S. Airports as Airlines Prepare for Record 31 Million Thanksgiving Passengers[1][2]

TOP 3 STORIES:

1. FAA Ends 43-Day Shutdown Disruptions, Restores Full Operations — The Federal Aviation Administration lifted all remaining flight restrictions on November 20, 2025, ending widespread cancellations that had forced airlines to cut schedules by 4-6% due to air traffic controller staffing shortages.[1] Travel professionals should expect normalized operations and restored flight frequencies, though residual delays may persist as the national airspace transitions back to regular operations.[1]

2. Record Thanksgiving Travel Surge Underway with 31 Million Projected Passengers — Airlines for America projects more than 31 million passengers will fly between November 21 and December 1, 2025—an all-time high—with airlines offering 45,000 more seats daily than 2024.[2] Peak travel days are Sunday, November 30 and Monday, December 1, requiring travelers to allow extra time and book strategically around these congestion windows.[2]

3. Major Carriers Deploy Expanded Capacity and Late-Night Flights — Leading U.S. airlines are operating nearly 81,000 flights during the Thanksgiving period, with one carrier expecting to handle 5.6 million checked bags and another forecasting over 6.6 million passengers—a 300,000-passenger increase year-over-year.[1] Airlines are adding extra late-night flights from major hubs like Phoenix and Chicago to accommodate demand, signaling aggressive capacity management strategies.[1]

Flash Insight: The rapid recovery from the federal shutdown demonstrates the aviation industry's operational resilience, with the FAA's decision to rescind restrictions enabling airlines to capitalize on pent-up holiday demand. Travel professionals should advise clients that while record passenger volumes create congestion risks, expanded daily seat capacity and restored schedules provide more booking flexibility than initially feared. Industry stakeholders are closely monitoring system performance through peak travel days, with safety and staffing allocation remaining regulatory priorities as facilities recover from the 43-day disruption.[1][2]

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Sources:
[1] https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/faa-lifts-flight-restrictions-as-airlines-brace-for-record-thanksgiving-travel-517084
[2] https://www.airlines.org/news-update/u-s-airlines-expecting-record-breaking-thanksgiving-travel-season/