US air travel sets a pandemic-era record despite calls to stay home for Thanksgiving

The number of travelers passing through airport security checkpoints in the United States reached its highest level since mid-March on Wednesday despite urging from federal health officials for Americans to spend Thanksgiving at home. In a pandemic-era record, 1,070,967 people passed through security at America's airports on the day before Thanksgiving. That number is just 40% of last year's passenger volume on the same day, when 2,602,631 people were screened. The US CDC last week urged Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving, but since that warning was issued nearly 6m travelers have passed through airport security. The TSA receives passenger information from the airlines as part of its screening responsibilities, and the data does not show widespread cancellations in recent days, TSA spokesman Andy Post said. From September to October, the number of scheduled available seats departing US airports was down nearly 50% compared to the same timeframe last year. Due to increased demand, that number is only down 39% for the Thanksgiving holiday period, according to Airlines for America, a trade association that represents major North American airlines. While Wednesday was busy, industry groups expect the Sunday after the holiday to be even busier.<br/>