Travel experts anticipated that Thanksgiving 2025 would set new records for air travel in the United States, and their predictions proved accurate. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed that Sunday, November 30, 2025, marked the busiest travel day in US history, with over 3.13 million passengers screened at airports nationwide. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 3.09 million, established earlier in 2025, reflecting a 1.4% increase compared to the same day last year.
Significantly, prior to this year, daily screenings had only exceeded 3 million passengers on two occasions. However, in 2025 alone, this threshold has been crossed on seven different days.
Challenges During the Holiday Surge
The Thanksgiving weekend posed various challenges for US air travel. The aviation sector is still recovering from disruptions caused by a recent government shutdown, which resulted in thousands of daily flight cancellations and affected over 5 million travelers. Moreover, severe weather conditions across the Midwest and uncertainties related to Airbus software updates contributed to the potential for significant travel disruptions.
Despite these hurdles, TSA agents successfully screened 3,133,924 individuals on November 30, setting an all-time record for the agency. This figure eclipses the previous record of 3,096,797 screenings achieved on June 22, 2025. For context, the average daily volume for TSA screenings is approximately 2.48 million passengers, showing an increase of around 14,000 daily travelers compared to 2024.
Adam Stahl, the deputy TSA administrator, acknowledged the record-breaking travel day while expressing gratitude for the efforts of TSA personnel. He stated, “The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year, and this year we have seen record numbers of holiday travelers taking to the skies. We are extremely grateful for the tireless work of our TSA Officers, who show up every day to ensure Americans can travel freely and safely.”
Record-Breaking Travel Days
The US has now experienced nine days in which screenings exceeded three million passengers in a single day. Traditionally, the Sunday following Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day, yet the summer months remain dominant for overall TSA screenings. Notably, the start of the 2025 summer travel season ranks as the second-busiest day on record, while all four Sundays in July feature in the top ten busiest travel days.
Here is a list of the top ten record travel days based on TSA screenings:
1. **November 30, 2025** – Sunday after Thanksgiving: 3,133,924
2. **June 22, 2025** – Start of the summer travel season: 3,096,797
3. **December 1, 2024** – Sunday after Thanksgiving: 3,088,836
4. **July 6, 2025** – Sunday after Fourth of July: 3,041,954
5. **July 20, 2025** – Mid-summer peak: 3,040,346
6. **July 27, 2025** – Mid-summer peak: 3,017,408
7. **July 7, 2024** – Sunday after Fourth of July: 3,013,622
8. **May 23, 2025** – Start of Memorial Day weekend: 3,010,183
9. **July 13, 2025** – Mid-summer peak: 3,005,374
10. **July 17, 2025** – Mid-summer peak: 2,998,091
The surge in travel activity throughout 2025 has occurred despite initial concerns regarding weaker demand. Some analysts had speculated that certain policies from the current US administration, including tariffs and stricter immigration measures, would negatively impact travel. Yet, the opposite appears to be true. A report from Nerdwallet indicates that travel costs decreased year-over-year for six consecutive months from March to August, with summer airfares dropping by 7.4% compared to last year.
Additionally, it is important to note that TSA screenings do not fully capture the total number of travelers at various airports. For instance, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has recorded up to 114,000 screenings in a single day, but the actual number of passengers passing through is often three times higher. Similarly, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) reached a record of 117,871 screenings on August 4, following the Lollapalooza music festival. In July 2025 alone, ORD welcomed over 8.26 million passengers, averaging approximately 266,000 travelers daily.
As competition intensifies at ORD, both United Airlines and American Airlines vie for market share. United now commands 47% of all seats from this major hub, while American has responded by expanding its network and upgrading aircraft on existing routes. This competitive landscape has led to increased capacity and lower fares, driving an 11% year-over-year increase in airline traffic thus far in 2025.
The record-breaking travel numbers reflect not only a rebound from previous disruptions but also a robust demand for air travel, signaling a significant recovery for the US aviation industry.
