WASHINGTON, December 15, 2025 — U.S. airlines are expected to carry a record 52.6 million passengers over the 18-day winter holiday travel period (December 19—January 5), according to a forecast released today by Airlines for America (A4A). An average 2.9 million passengers are expected to fly every day over the holiday.

To accommodate this demand, U.S. carriers will add 72,000 seats daily. The busiest travel days are projected to be Friday, Dec. 19; Saturday, Dec. 20; Sunday, Dec. 21; Friday, Dec. 26; and Sunday, Dec. 28.

“Another record holiday travel period is on the horizon, and U.S. airlines are ready to get you and your packages to destinations across the country and around the world,” said Chris Sununu, A4A’s President and CEO. “We have more than one million men and women working across the industry to connect people and deliver presents to locations big and small.”

With the holidays approaching, A4A wants to remind individuals to check your preferred cargo carrier’s shipping deadlines to ensure your packages arrive on time. Helpful holiday shipping tips can be found here.

A4A also is continuing its “Carry On Kindness” campaign this holiday season. For the second year in a row, we’re spreading holiday cheer by reminding travelers that behind every successful journey is a team of dedicated men and women working around the clock to ensure your flight arrives safely. Whether it’s helping someone lift their bag into the overhead or thanking a crewmember at the gate, we want to remind travelers that small acts of kindness can go a long way.