'Stakes are high.' With shutdown over, airlines predict record numbers of travelers this Thanksgiving

Core Insights - U.S. airlines are anticipating a record Thanksgiving travel period following the end of the government shutdown, which had significant impacts on air travel operations [1][3] Industry Predictions - Airlines are expected to carry over 31 million passengers from November 21 to December 1, with peak travel days on the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving, projecting approximately 3.4 million and 3.1 million passengers respectively [2] Impact of Government Shutdown - The recent government shutdown, which lasted for a month, caused delays and cancellations affecting around 6 million travelers due to shortages of air traffic controllers who were required to work without pay [3] Legislative Actions - The airline industry is advocating for legislation to ensure air traffic controllers receive pay during any future government shutdowns, expressing concerns over air travel being used as a political bargaining tool [4]