With worries of long lines on her mind, Surbhi Arora woke up early to allow extra time to check in for her family’s flight to India Tuesday morning. The monthlong holiday trip marks her 1-year-old daughter’s first to the country, and a chance to catch up with grandparents, she said.
“We were dreading coming to the airport. We got here like 2 ½ hours early,” Arora said as she organized luggage and chased her daughter through the hallways at O’Hare International Airport.
“But I think they’ve done a good job of streamlining stuff,” added Arora, 40, of the northwest suburbs. “I think they’re doing a pretty good job. It’s smooth.”
Chicago’s airports are preparing to welcome more than 1.8 million travelers between Tuesday and next Monday on what the Transportation Security Administration predicts will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever nationally for air travel. The TSA expects to screen 18.3 million people during the seven-day stretch, which would be 6% more than last year.
“Fortunately, our staffing is also at the highest levels that they have ever been,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “We are ready.”
At O’Hare, nearly 1.5 million travelers are expected to pass through, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation, an 11.4% “significant surge” compared with last year. Meanwhile, the traffic at Midway Airport is expected to stay consistent with last year.
The busiest travel day at both of Chicago’s airports will probably be Sunday, CDA said. More than 250,000 passengers are expected at O’Hare and 58,000 at Midway. Nationally, the TSA expects 3 million people to pass through airport security checkpoints Sunday.
While there’s still “a lot of question marks” with the weather, Chicagoans may face some weather-related travel disruptions, depending on snowfall. There’s a chance of snow Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures in the mid-30s, according to the National Weather Service.
“The holiday season is a time to come together with friends and family, and our airports are proud to help make those reunions possible,” CDA Commissioner Jamie Rhee said in a news release. “At the CDA, safety is our top priority, and we remain committed to providing a smooth and welcoming travel experience at O’Hare and Midway, ensuring passengers can focus on what truly matters — spending time with their loved ones.”
AAA expects nearly 80 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday weekend, mostly by car. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that some lanes closed for construction will reopen during the holiday to minimize travel disruption.
At O’Hare, Tori Pope and Bobby Glasgow waited for an Uber after their plane from New York landed Tuesday morning. While Pope heard of some traveling horror stories earlier this week, she said the airport was calm and lines were short.
The couple plan to spend their weeklong trip with family, bowling, playing football and visiting the Morton Arboretum.
“Keep it cool, don’t get flustered,” Glasgow recommended for his fellow travelers this week.
