U.S. Airports Screen 5 Million Passengers Ahead of Thanksgiving, a New Record Since Pandemic’s Start
Photo Credit: Crowds like these at U.S. airports were not uncommon in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, despite a resurgent cases of coronavirus. Getty / SolStock
Skift Take
Despite warnings from the CDC, Americans are traveling by air to see their loved ones and vacation. That's a good thing for the airlines. But the weeks ahead will be telling as to what the costs will be to the American people.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has screened nearly 5 million people since Friday when Americans began their Thanksgiving holiday traveling in earnest, the latest numbers made available on Wednesday show.
This was the busiest stretch for passenger traffic at U.S. airports since the pandemic began, the data show, despite foreboding warnings from U.S. health officials about the risks of travel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) last week issued guidance to avoid traveling due to an increase in coronavirus cases across the U.S.
Globally, countries are seeing an uptick in the number of people contracting the coronavirus. As a result many countries in Europe and several states in the U.S. are enacting second wave lockdowns, at a time when airlines are struggling with the realities the pandemic has dealt them.
While urging Americans to celebrate virtually or with members
