Holiday Travel Surge Hits High, Even After Holiday Weekend

Park Hills, Mo. (KFMO) - The end of the holiday weekend may be over, but heavy air travel isn’t expected to ease up until Monday night.

With the recent end of the government shutdown, full staffing for air traffic control has resumed, a key shift that comes just as holiday weekend travel peaks. Federal officials say the Federal Aviation Administration expects this to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years, with hundreds of thousands of flights still to take off and land, a surge that could bring crowds and long wait times at airports nationwide.

On top of that, weather is complicating things for many travelers. A significant winter storm sweeping through the Midwest and Central U.S. is dumping snow and creating hazardous conditions for air and road travel alike.

As travelers scramble to return home on Monday, they’re being urged to allow extra time: check flight status, prepare for possible deicing delays or cancellations, and if driving, take care with slick roads and reduced visibility.