American Airlines Plans 85,000 Flights for Thanksgiving Travel Period

American Airlines expects to carry more than 8 million passengers over the 2026 Thanksgiving travel period, with approximately 85,000 flights scheduled from Nov. 19 through Dec. 1. The airline projects a departure about every 13 seconds during that span.

Key details

• Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 26, 2026.
• American plans 7,021 flights on Sunday, Nov. 29, which it describes as its largest operating day since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The airline expects 1,130 flights to operate simultaneously at 11 a.m. Central Time on Nov. 20, 29, and 30.
• Chief Operating Officer David Seymour said American is preparing for a busy holiday period and prioritizing safe, reliable operations.

American Airlines plans 7,021 flights on Nov. 29, its largest operating day since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters

The scheduled activity spans 13 days, with American’s projected peak operating day falling three days after Thanksgiving. Its simultaneous-flight projection also shows how much of the airline’s network it expects to have in operation during key travel dates.