Christmas Eve Crowds: Airports Busy Or Calm Before Storm?

Christmas is a busy time of year for airports, with many people travelling to spend the holidays with their families. However, Christmas Eve is generally one of the quieter days to fly, with fewer crowds and cheaper prices. In 2024, 40 million people flew during the Christmas period according to the TSA, with the bulk of travel happening between 23 December and 1 January. The days with the highest volume of travellers were 20, 27 and 30 December. In contrast, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were the least busy days to travel.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the cheapest and least busy times to fly

According to Expedia, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the cheapest days to fly during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period. The busiest and most expensive days will be the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before Christmas.

The days before Christmas are expected to be extra busy at airports. However, Christmas Day itself is usually quieter than usual, and many airports in countries that celebrate Christmas will be quiet, and some will be closed. In general, airports are no busier on December 25 than usual, and they are certainly quieter than the days before and after.

The days with the highest passenger volumes are expected to be Friday, December 20; Friday, December 27; and Monday, December 30. The weekend before Christmas is when everyone heads to their holiday destinations, so if you want to skip the worst of the crowds, avoid flying from Friday, December 20, to Sunday, December 22.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it expects to screen nearly 40 million travelers from December 19 to January 2. This is a 6% increase from last year.

If you want to avoid the crowds, the best days to fly are the holidays and their eves. In addition, the days immediately before and after the holidays tend to be less crowded than the days leading up to them.

The days with the highest passenger volume are December 20, 27, and 30

The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that 20 December will be the most crowded day to fly, followed by 27 December and 30 December. American Airlines also expects 27 December to be its busiest travel day, followed by 20 December.

The days around Christmas are some of the busiest for air travel. In 2024, airports are busier than ever. According to Expedia's Holiday Outlook, flight searches for Christmas travel are up 20% from the previous year.

However, Christmas Day is historically the least crowded travel day during the holiday week. Christmas Eve is also a good day to fly, with fewer crowds and cheaper prices.

If you want to avoid the worst of the crowds, it's best to skip the weekend before Christmas. Flying on 20, 21, or 22 December will mean encountering more travellers and paying higher prices.

The weekend before Christmas is when most people head to their destinations

The bulk of this travel is expected to happen between Monday, 23 December and 1 January, with 32.5 million seats scheduled to depart from US airports. The highest passenger volumes are expected to fall on Friday, 20 December; Friday, 27 December; and Monday, 30 December.

American Airlines, which is expecting 12.7 million passengers on 118,000 flights during the winter holiday period, expects 27 December to be its busiest travel day, followed by 20 December. United Airlines is also planning for its busiest holiday travel period ever, with 9.9 million passengers expected between 19 December and 6 January. Their busiest days are expected to be 20, 27 and 28 December.

The cheapest days to fly are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to Expedia. However, the days leading up to Christmas are expected to be the busiest and most expensive, with domestic airfares averaging $100 more than on the cheapest days during that period. In 2023, the busiest air travel day in the week leading up to Christmas was Friday, 22 December, when 2.8 million people passed through TSA security checkpoints.

The weekend before Christmas is when most people will be travelling to their holiday destinations. Airports will be crowded, and travellers should expect long lines and busy terminals.

The days following Christmas and New Year's are busy at airports

The days following Christmas and New Year are busy at airports. In fact, the Christmas and New Year holiday period is expected to be the busiest on record for air travel. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts that nearly 40 million travellers will pass through US airports between 19 December 2024 and 2 January 2025, a 6% jump from the previous year.

The days with the highest passenger volumes are expected to be Friday 20 December, Friday 27 December, and Monday 30 December. The bulk of this travel will happen between Monday 23 December and 1 January, when 32.5 million seats are scheduled to depart from US airports. The busiest airports during the Christmas week are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, with over 1 million travellers expected at each.

The days following Christmas and New Year are busy for several reasons. Firstly, many people are returning home after visiting family and friends for the holidays. Additionally, some people may be travelling to attend New Year's celebrations or taking advantage of the holiday period to take a vacation. The increase in travel during this period can lead to longer check-in and security lines at airports, as well as more crowded terminals and planes. It is recommended that travellers arrive at the airport earlier than usual, especially if they are driving themselves and parking at the airport.

To avoid the crowds and potential delays, some travellers choose to fly on the holidays themselves, such as Christmas Day or New Year's Day, as these tend to be the least busy travel days. However, it is important to note that some services located within airports, such as public transport, banking services, and rental car services, may be reduced or closed during the holiday period.

Mornings are the busiest time at airports, with the highest volume of seats between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m

Mornings are the busiest time at airports on Christmas Eve, with the highest volume of seats between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. This is when most people are expected to fly out for their holiday trips.

According to Hopper, a travel planning site, mornings are generally the busiest time at airports. In fact, flights departing after 9 a.m. are twice as likely to be delayed than those scheduled between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. The site also recommends booking the first flight of the day, as there is often a domino effect where one delayed flight leads to a second and then a third.

This trend is also backed up by data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which shows that the highest passenger volumes on Christmas Eve are expected to fall on Friday, December 20. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also predicts that this day will be the most crowded of the holiday period, followed by Friday, December 27, and Monday, December 30.

The busy morning period can be attributed to travellers wanting to avoid potential disruptions and delays that become more common later in the day. Winter weather conditions and technical failures can impact flights, so it is advisable to plan ahead and consider travel insurance.

However, it is worth noting that choosing a morning flight may come with a higher price tag. Loulu Lima, a travel agent, notes that "the earlier flights are going to be the more expensive ones." Therefore, travellers need to weigh the benefits of a less crowded morning flight with the potential increase in cost.

Additionally, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are generally the least busy travel days, with smaller crowds and cheaper prices. So, if you're looking for a quieter airport experience, consider travelling on these holidays.

Frequently asked questions