Recently appointed head, Mike Whitaker, shared a video on X platform, projecting 49,600 flights for Wednesday
The newly appointed Federal Aviation Administration head, Mike Whitaker, urged civility from travelers ahead of Thanksgiving, a period when weather might complicate plans. In a statement on X, previously known as Twitter, Whitaker stressed the importance of treating flight crews respectfully for passenger safety, as the FAA has a zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior.
Anticipating an exceptionally busy Thanksgiving, Whitaker mentioned an estimate of 49,600 flights on Wednesday and assured continuous FAA efforts for passenger safety.
Additionally, the Transportation Security Administration foresees a record-breaking 30 million passengers screened from November 17 to 28, with Tuesday and Wednesday expected to see 2.6 million and 2.7 million passengers, respectively. Sunday is projected as the busiest day with 2.9 million passengers.
The National Weather Service predicts two storm systems affecting the country, causing delays in approximately 1,784 flights as of Tuesday afternoon, with 2.6 million passengers rushing to avoid an approaching weather system from the Gulf of Mexico toward the east coast.
Severe storms have already impacted the US plains and midwest this week, leading the American Automobile Association (AAA) to estimate disruptions for over 50 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles between Wednesday and Sunday.
In addition to Whitaker’s call for improved passenger behavior, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg released a public service announcement outlining passengers’ rights in case of delays or cancellations, highlighting enforceable commitments from major airlines to cover expenses like rebooking and meals for disruptions that fall under the airline’s responsibility.
