Record-Breaking Travel Marks Thanksgiving: TSA Screens 3.13 Million Passengers

The TSA reported screening 3.13 million airline passengers on Sunday, a record-setting day amid the Thanksgiving travel surge. This milestone came despite challenging weather in the Midwest. Airlines faced operational challenges due to an Airbus 320 software issue, leading to flight adjustments.

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration screened a record 3.13 million airline passengers on a single day this past Sunday. This surge in travel coincided with the peak of the Thanksgiving travel season, despite challenging weather conditions in the Midwest.

The Federal Aviation Administration projected over 360,000 flights in the nine-day period ending December 2, marking the highest flight activity in 15 years. The TSA had previously screened over 3 million passengers on only two occasions before 2024 but surpassed this number eight times in 2025.

Amid the soaring air travel, airlines are tackling operational issues linked to Airbus 320 airplanes. Due to a recently discovered vulnerability to solar flares, a mandated software retrofit was issued. Notably, JetBlue faced additional flight cancellations as it continued compliance with the order.

(With inputs from agencies.)