Chicago’s major airports are preparing for an exceptionally crowded holiday period, with officials projecting the busiest Thanksgiving travel week ever recorded across the city’s aviation system. The Chicago Department of Aviation reported that nearly two million passengers are expected to pass through O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport between Tuesday and Monday, December 1. The projection reflects a strong holiday travel surge fueled by both airline scheduling increases and high nationwide demand.
Airport leaders noted that O’Hare alone is forecast to handle approximately 1.63 million passengers during the seven-day window, representing a 9.5 percent increase compared with last year. According to the department, this rise would make it the busiest Thanksgiving week in O’Hare’s 70-year history. Midway International Airport is also anticipating heavier volume, with nearly 350,000 travelers expected, marking a slight but notable increase from 2024.
The travel rush comes shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the extraordinary flight restrictions put in place during the lengthy government shutdown earlier this month, which had resulted in thousands of cancellations across the country. With those limits removed, the FAA now anticipates its busiest Thanksgiving period in 15 years. Nationwide, more than 360,000 flights are scheduled, and the Transportation Security Administration estimates that more than 17.8 million passengers will be screened.
Sunday, November 30, is projected to be the most congested day at both Chicago airports, prompting officials to warn travelers of extended wait times at security checkpoints. Early Tuesday, O’Hare reported 47 delayed flights and nine cancellations, while Midway reported additional delays as holiday travel accelerated. Passengers using iPhones at both airports can add their driver’s license or state identification to Apple Wallet for use at certain checkpoints, a feature designed to streamline document verification.
Road travel will also be heavy throughout the region. AAA expects 1.3 million more drivers nationwide compared with last year, pushing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million. In Illinois alone, roughly 3.7 million residents are expected to hit the road. Traffic specialists report that the busiest periods are expected from midday to evening Tuesday and from late morning through evening on Wednesday.
Weather conditions may further complicate travel across the Midwest. A wind advisory is set to take effect from late Tuesday through Wednesday evening, with gusts potentially reaching 50 miles per hour across northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Forecasters warn that strong winds may disrupt holiday decorations, down tree limbs and create hazardous conditions for drivers, particularly those operating high-profile vehicles on north–south routes.
Additional weather threats stretch beyond Illinois. Northwestern Michigan is under a winter storm warning, with forecasts calling for as much as a foot of snow. Meanwhile, forecasters in Illinois are monitoring a system that could bring three to six inches of snow over the weekend, potentially affecting return travel late in the holiday period.
As millions prepare to travel for Thanksgiving, officials advise planning ahead, expecting delays and allowing extra time both at the airport and on the roads. The combination of record passenger levels, weather uncertainties and the holiday rush is expected to make this one of the most challenging Thanksgiving travel weeks in recent memory.
