What a difference a week makes.
Last Monday, we just came off one of the most chaotic weekends at the airport in years, with the government shutdown leading to massive flight cancellations and a lot of concerns about Thanksgiving travel.
It’s safe to say things are looking up now, with Turkey Day just 10 days away.
Earlier on Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration no longer required airlines to cancel flights at the nation’s 40 largest airports.
FAA Administrator Brian Bedford said the move comes amid “steady declines in staffing issues” at air traffic control facilities across the country.
Air traffic controllers are working without pay during the government shutdown, and workers are increasingly vocal as the government fails to reopen for weeks. That has exacerbated flight disruptions across the country and prompted the FAA to limit the number of flights airlines can operate.
But conditions at the airport improved rapidly as the government reopened.
Air travel went much smoother this past weekend than the previous weekend of November 8 and 9, when passengers faced hours-long taxiway delays, increased flight cancellations and sleepless nights in airport terminals.
Airlines were allowed to resume full flights starting at 6 a.m. ET on Monday.
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The moment couldn’t come sooner: Starting Friday, airlines expect to welcome a record 31 million passengers at airports during the Thanksgiving rush, a trade group for the largest airlines said this month.
Thanksgiving ‘all systems running’
Some in the industry are concerned that travelers may experience some lingering disruption related to the shutdown.
Still, early data suggests air travel will rebound significantly — which could bode well for the holidays.
| date | FAA sounds alarm over insufficient air traffic control staffing |
|---|---|
| Saturday, November 8 | 81* |
| Sunday, November 16 | 1* |
*Source: FAA.
On Sunday, cancellation rates at many of the nation’s largest airports were largely in line with a normal travel weekend.
| date | Percentage of flights canceled by U.S. airlines |
|---|---|
| January 1 to September 30 (before shutdown) | 1.6** |
| October 1 to 30 (early closing) | 1.3** |
| October 31 to November 10 (delayed closing) | 3.2** |
**Source: FlightAware.
Flexible travel exemption ends
Airlines, as expected, began phasing out flexible travel exemptions as operations returned to normal, giving customers more freedom to change tickets and receive refunds during the shutdown.
Travel exemptions for Delta and United ended Sunday. American Airlines’ advisory has also ended.
Refund rules remain in effect
Of course, customers still have rights.
All passengers should receive a refund if they choose not to travel following a cancellation or significant delay.
But the extra flexibility consumers gained during the shutdown has largely ended before the holidays.
Traveling for Thanksgiving 2025: Things to Know
Although the outlook for Thanksgiving is more optimistic, it’s still smart to be prepared for the unexpected.
Mother Nature has a way of disrupting vacation travelers’ plans, especially when severe weather hits the crowded Northeast.
And remember: The FAA still has a chronic air traffic controller shortage, which can cause flight delays on any given day (especially in the event of bad weather).
Using airline apps
If I were planning on traveling over Thanksgiving, I would continue to keep a close eye on my airline apps for any signs of flight trouble. This is the key to rebooking if something goes wrong and getting your trip back on track.
Save time with TSA PreCheck
If you have TSA PreCheck access, make sure your known traveler number is included with your reservation. Additionally, if you fly from a participating airport, you can sign up for the ultra-fast TSA PreCheck contactless ID program with your airline profile.
Learn more: What to do if your boarding pass isn’t marked with TSA PreCheck
All travelers can monitor checkpoint wait times using the MyTSA app, which should be available again after the shutdown ends.
Plan ahead for the airport’s busiest day
Finally, plan to get to the airport early, especially if you’re flying on Sunday, November 30th. Typically, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year.
Do travelers have any concerns?
During the holidays, it will be interesting to watch whether the crowds will dwindle following the closures. A recent TPG survey with YouGov revealed that a large proportion of travelers said they had canceled, rebooked or reconsidered their holiday travel plans due to the recent disruption.
Are airlines in trouble?
Could airlines get into trouble because their operations are running too smoothly?
Of course, passengers were happy to see air travel return to (somewhat) normality last weekend.
However, some airports’ numbers are so high that they’re causing concern in Washington, D.C.
Over the weekend, the Trump administration still technically required airlines to cancel 3% of flights at 40 major hubs as part of a gradual return to full flight schedules.
However, cancellation rates at many large airports are not even 1%, according to FlightAware, suggesting some airlines are not canceling the number of flights expected.
The FAA said Sunday it was “aware of reports of airline violations” and was “reviewing and evaluating enforcement options.”
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