Thanksgiving 2025 Air Travel In US Breaks Records

Thanksgiving 2025 was the busiest ever for TSA at airports across America. Sunday, November 30, 2025 saw the highest number of airline passengers screened on a single day at 3,133,924 million.

Eight out of the top 10 busiest days for TSA all took place during 2025, with major travel days surrounding this year’s summer federal holidays like Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Fourth of July ranking among the record-breaking screening days. TSA Checkpoint Travel Numbers are available to the public.

In related TSA news, travelers without a REAL ID or a passport will face a $45 fee starting Feb. 1, 2026. The announcement represents an increase in the $18 fee previously suggested.

Individuals traveling without a REAL ID can go online at TSA.gov and follow the instructions listed to verify their identity and pay the fee.After completing the steps, they will receive an email confirmation to show the TSA officer before they can pass through the checkpoint. The whole process should typically take between 10 to 15 minutes, but could also take as much as 30 minutes or even longer.