DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field preparing for busy Thanksgiving travel week
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Thanksgiving week travel is expected to set an all-time record with almost 82 million Americans hitting the road or flying for the holiday, per AAA.
Why it matters: About 1.6 million more Americans are traveling this week compared with last year, and most will be driving.
- In Texas, 5.3 million people will be on the road for trips of 50 miles or more.
The intrigue: The Thanksgiving travel period started Friday, with departures spread over the next few days.
- Next Sunday, the 30th, will be the busiest travel day, with most travelers returning home at once.
By the numbers: DFW Airport is expecting 3 million passengers to pass through the airport between Nov. 20 and Dec. 2.
- Nov. 30 is projected to be the airport's busiest day, with 269,000 travelers passing through. That's up from last year when people got stuck in a massive traffic jam at DFW.
- Fort Worth-based American Airlines has 80,759 scheduled flights during the Thanksgiving travel period, an increase from last year's holiday.
- At Dallas Love Field, about 340,000 passengers are expected to pass through Nov. 22-30.
Threat level: Traffic is likely to be slower at both airports due to road construction.
The big picture: About 500,000 Texans are expected to fly this week for Thanksgiving, per AAA.
- Overall, holiday travel in Texas is rising for the seventh straight year.
⛽️ Follow the money: Gas prices are slightly higher than last year. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in North Texas is about $2.85.
- Last year, a gallon was about $2.72, per AAA.
The bottom line: Expect traffic. Prepare for delays. Pack your favorite guided meditations to get through it.