Millions of Americans returning home after Thanksgiving 2025 found themselves at the heart of a travel storm—literally and figuratively. As families wrapped up their holiday gatherings, a record-breaking number of travelers packed U.S. airports, only to be met by a relentless winter storm sweeping across the Midwest and Central United States. The result? A travel weekend for the history books, marked by unprecedented airport crowds, thousands of flight cancellations and delays, and snow-covered highways that tested the patience and nerves of even the most seasoned holiday commuters.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Sunday, November 30, 2025, set an all-time record for air travel in the United States. The agency screened more than 3.13 million passengers at security checkpoints nationwide—surpassing the previous record of 3.09 million set earlier in June and representing a 1.4% increase over the same post-Thanksgiving Sunday in 2024. Adam Stahl, the TSA’s deputy administrator, acknowledged the milestone and the effort behind it, stating, “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,” as reported by Reuters.
This surge in air travel was not an isolated spike. All of the TSA’s top ten busiest travel days have occurred since July 2024, with eight of those days falling in 2025 alone. In fact, before this year, the U.S. had only exceeded three million airport screenings twice in a single day; in 2025, that threshold was crossed on nine separate occasions. The summer months saw their own share of bustling terminals, with all four Sundays in July making it into the top ten busiest days on record. The average daily volume of TSA screenings in 2025 has climbed to about 2.48 million, up roughly 14,000 passengers per day compared to 2024.
Yet, the numbers only tell part of the story. The historic travel volume coincided with a powerful winter storm that swept across the Midwest and Central U.S., creating a cascade of travel disruptions. As reported by The Economic Times and ABC News, more than 1,000 flights to and from Chicago airports were canceled within 24 hours, with average delays of five hours at O’Hare International on Saturday, November 29. By the time the weekend was over, airlines had canceled more than 3,200 flights and delayed over 23,000, according to FlightAware. Sunday alone saw nearly 13,000 delayed flights and more than 1,000 cancellations, making the day not only the busiest but also one of the most challenging for travelers and airline staff alike.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stepped in, issuing ground stops at both Chicago Midway and O’Hare airports due to worsening weather conditions. FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar summed up the situation: “Chicago is by far the worst airport in the country when it comes to travel disruptions today.” The chaos didn’t stop there. Major airports in Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Detroit were also expected to experience lingering delays and cancellations through the weekend, as reported by The Economic Times.
The winter storm advisories blanketed a vast swath of the country, stretching from South Dakota and Nebraska to Ohio and Indiana. Cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee braced for 8 to 12 inches of snow by Sunday, with northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin facing the possibility of more than a foot. Central Iowa cities reported 3 to 5 inches on Saturday, with most of the state possibly seeing up to a foot by Sunday morning. Springfield, Illinois, declared a snow emergency through 8 a.m. Sunday, and Iowa’s State Patrol reported 182 crashes and assisted 488 motorists during the storm’s peak. A massive 45-car pileup on I-70 near Vigo County, Indiana, underscored just how treacherous the roads had become.
For those driving home, the advice was clear: wait until after 8 p.m. on Monday to avoid the worst of the traffic, according to transportation analytics firm Inrix. But even that couldn’t guarantee a smooth ride, as snow continued to fall and authorities urged motorists to adjust their plans and exercise caution. Interstate highways in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois were heavily impacted, with snow-covered roads leading to multiple crashes and stranded vehicles.
Airlines attempted to ease the burden for stranded passengers by rolling out weather waivers for those booked on Saturday and Sunday flights, though none extended into Monday. The ripple effect of the weekend’s disruptions was felt across dozens of airports in the Midwest, including St. Louis Lambert International, Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Des Moines International, and several others in Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. While schedules began to return to normal by Monday afternoon, more winter weather was forecast for the Midwest and Northeast later in the week, keeping travelers and airline staff on high alert.
Interestingly, the post-pandemic travel surge occurred despite airline concerns about weaker demand in 2025. Early in the year, some industry analysts predicted that government policies—such as tariffs and tighter immigration rules—might dampen travel. Instead, airlines’ cautious approach to capacity, coupled with lower airfares (down 7.4% year-over-year for six straight months), appears to have fueled demand. According to Nerdwallet, summer airfares were significantly lower compared to 2024, likely encouraging more Americans to take to the skies for both holiday and summer getaways.
Airport records themselves tell a story of their own. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest, saw up to 114,000 daily TSA screenings, while Chicago O’Hare (ORD) welcomed more than 8.26 million passengers in July—an average of 266,000 per day. United Airlines and American Airlines, both with major hubs at O’Hare, have been locked in a competitive battle, increasing capacity and lowering fares, which has driven an 11% year-over-year increase in airline traffic at the airport.
As the dust—and snow—settled, the Thanksgiving 2025 travel season stood out as a testament to the resilience of both travelers and the transportation system. Despite the headaches, delays, and cancellations, millions made it home, thanks in no small part to the efforts of TSA officers, airline crews, airport staff, and a little bit of luck dodging the worst of the weather. The experience offered a glimpse into the complexities and unpredictability of modern travel, especially when Mother Nature decides to join the party.
With winter far from over and more storms on the horizon, both travelers and the industry are bracing for what comes next. If this past weekend is any indication, they’ll be ready—snow boots, patience, and all.
