Record Memorial Day Travel Raises Anxiety for Flyers

As Memorial Day approaches, travelers in the U.S. are preparing for a stressful holiday, with airports expecting unprecedented numbers of passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates over 328,000 flights will occur from May 21 to May 27, a significant increase that stresses an already outdated air traffic system. Although many people will opt to travel by car, those flying are experiencing heightened anxiety due to recent safety scares and air traffic control issues, particularly at Newark and Denver airports.

Travelers are taking extra precautions to mitigate potential delays. Palermo, a flyer heading out for the holiday, shared her anxiety about the trip, stating, “I know that I have the cushion if there is a delay, but I guess you could say I am anxious since I’m taking all these precautions.” She arrived at the airport three hours early, carrying her passport to avoid issues as she does not possess a REAL ID.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports it will screen approximately 18 million passengers and crew over the holiday period. Meanwhile, AAA forecasts that roughly 39.4 million people will travel by car, indicating a shift in travel preferences. Despite this, airlines such as United and American Airlines are optimistic about domestic demand, which has stabilized since experiencing a sharp decline in March. United expects to increase passenger numbers by 300,000 this holiday compared to last year, and American anticipates a 4.2% rise in flights.

However, the surge in air travel comes amid ongoing challenges. The air traffic system is still recovering from serious incidents this year, including the worst civil aviation disaster in decades and multiple near misses. Significant technological failures have also caused disruptions, notably affecting Newark, where equipment outages led to communication breakdowns with incoming flights and resulted in over 2,000 cancellations and nearly 7,000 delays in the last month alone.

A survey conducted by Bankrate indicates that 46% of U.S. adults plan to travel this year. Yet, among those who will not travel, 65% cited financial constraints as the primary reason, while 15% expressed safety concerns about airlines. A separate survey revealed that 38% of respondents intend to reduce their travel spending in 2025.

Katy Nastro, a spokeswoman for Going, a subscription service for travel deals, noted, “While it’s likely we see record numbers this year, it’s not going to be those grand numbers we’ve seen in 2023 and 2024 that outpaced prepandemic. There’s a slowing — not a halt.” Despite the rising numbers, the anxiety surrounding travel remains a critical issue for many flyers this holiday season.