Airports And New Year's Day: A Busy Combination?

are airports busy on january 1st

The Christmas and New Year period is a busy time for airports, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expecting to screen around 40 million passengers between 19 December 2024 and 2 January 2025. This is a 6% increase in air travel compared to the same period in 2023. The busiest travel days are anticipated between 23 December and 1 January, with Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve offering the least crowded flights.

Characteristics Values
Are airports busy on January 1st? Yes, January 1st is one of the busiest days for airports, with nearly 40 million passengers expected to be screened by the TSA.
Busiest Airports Atlanta, Dallas Fort-Worth, and Denver
Busiest Times Mornings, between 8 am and 12 pm
Least Busy Days Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day

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Airports are busiest in the mornings, between 8 am and noon

The Christmas and New Year holiday period is expected to be a busy time for airports, with the TSA anticipating screening nearly 40 million travellers at airport security checkpoints. This is a more than 6% increase from the previous year.

The bulk of this travel is expected to take place between 23 December and 1 January, with 32.5 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports during this period. The busiest days for travel are projected to be 20 December, 27 December, and 30 December.

While there isn't a specific day that stands out as the busiest, it is anticipated that the entire travel period between Christmas and New Year will have high volumes of passengers. The mornings, in particular, are expected to be the busiest time in airports, with the highest volume of seats scheduled to depart between 8 am and noon in most major cities.

To avoid the worst crowds, travellers can opt to fly on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, or New Year's Day. These days usually offer the cheapest airfares, although they are also the most expensive days for road travel.

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen around 40 million passengers

The TSA screens approximately 3.3 million carry-on bags and 1.3 million checked bags daily for explosives and other dangerous items. Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport two hours before their scheduled flight to allow for adequate time to park, check bags, and go through security screening.

The busiest travel days are anticipated between December 23 and January 1, with 32.5 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports during this period. The highest passenger volumes are expected on December 20, December 27, and December 30. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport are anticipated to be the busiest airports during the Christmas to New Year period.

To avoid the worst crowds, travellers are advised to fly on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, or New Year's Day. These are also the cheapest days to fly.

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The busiest US airports are Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver

The holiday season is one of the busiest times for airports, with the number of travellers reaching record-breaking numbers. This period, which includes the days between Christmas and New Year, is expected to see a high volume of air passengers.

The busiest US airports during the holidays are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport. Each of these airports is expected to serve over 1.3 million scheduled departing passengers. With such a high volume of travellers passing through, it is no surprise that these airports also experience a higher number of cancellations and delays.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest airport in the world, with more than 100 million passengers a year. It is conveniently located, just a two-hour flight from many large American cities, making it an easy layover spot for connecting flights. The airport handles around 2,700 flights per day and has been named the most efficient airport in the world.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is the busiest airport in the state of Texas. It spans more than 17,000 acres, even bigger than the island of Manhattan, and has its own postal code. As a hub for American Airlines, the airport serves millions of passengers travelling to over 250 destinations worldwide.

Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States by area, covering more than 33,000 acres. It is a hub for regional carriers, particularly Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. With plenty of room for expansion, Denver International Airport is expected to accommodate over 120 million annual passengers in the future.

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The busiest days to fly are Fridays, December 20 and 27

The busiest days to fly are Fridays—specifically, December 20 and 27. This is according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which said it expected to screen nearly 40 million travellers between December 19 and January 2. This figure is a 6.2% increase from 2023.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also predicts that December 19 will be the most crowded day to fly, followed by December 27 and 20. United Airlines, meanwhile, anticipates that its busiest days will be December 20 and 27, as well as December 28.

American Airlines expects December 27 to be its busiest travel day, followed by December 20. The airline is expecting almost 12.7 million passengers on 118,000 flights during the winter holiday period.

The busiest days to fly are usually Fridays because, in most airports, mornings are the busiest time. The highest volume of seats is scheduled to depart between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. in most major cities.

The cheapest days to fly are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Expedia. The days with the least crowded flights are usually the holidays and their eves.

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The cheapest days to fly are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas is a busy time for airports, with the period between December 23rd and January 1st being the busiest. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen nearly 40 million travellers during this time, a 6% jump from the previous year.

However, the cheapest days to fly are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to travel booking sites like Expedia. These days are also the least crowded, as people prefer not to travel on the holidays themselves. If you don't mind spending part of Christmas Day in an airport or on a plane, this can be a good strategy to save money and avoid crowds.

If you want to avoid the worst of the crowds, it's best to fly on or before Christmas Eve and return on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. These are the days with the least number of people travelling through airports in the week after Christmas. The days following Christmas are generally the busiest and most expensive, but if you can extend your trip and return on the next holidays, you'll benefit from lower prices and fewer fellow travellers.

The days from Friday, December 20th, through Sunday, December 22nd, are the busiest and most expensive days to fly. This is when most people are headed to their holiday destinations, so if you can, it's best to avoid travelling during this time.

If you're looking for the best deals, it's recommended to book your Christmas flights by the end of October. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to find lower prices and more availability.

So, if you're flexible with your travel dates and don't mind travelling on the holidays, booking your trip for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day can be a great way to save money and avoid the busiest travel days.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, airports are usually busy on January 1st as it falls within the holiday travel season. The period between December 23rd and January 1st is often the busiest time for air travel, with Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve being the least crowded.

To avoid the worst crowds, try to book a flight on December 31st or January 1st as these days typically have lower airfare and fewer passengers. It is also recommended to book the first flight of the day, as flights departing after 9 am are more likely to be delayed.

Major airports such as Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver tend to be among the busiest on January 1st, serving over 1.3 million departing passengers each.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recommends arriving at the airport at least two hours before your domestic flight and adding an extra hour if you are travelling internationally.

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