Millions of travelers will be on the move in the days before and after the Thanksgiving holiday and Tucson International Airport (TUS) is ready to welcome the tens of thousands that are expected in the terminal that week.

The more than 60,000 passengers scheduled to travel through TUS between November 23 and November 29 is an increase of at least 50% compared to 2020 levels. That total is just shy of the pre-pandemic benchmark set in 2019.

“We are encouraged by so many passengers putting their trust in TUS to provide a friendly, convenient customer experience, said Tucson Airport Authority President and CEO Danette Bewley. “We will need continued support like this beyond the holidays to help us reach pre-pandemic travel levels, attract new nonstop destinations, and land prosperity in Southern Arizona.”

While the aviation industry remains in recovery mode, TUS continues to outperform the nationwide average. Seat capacity across the country is down 9% for Thanksgiving week, but TUS is only down 3% in that same timeframe.

The busiest days for the upcoming week are the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving, followed closely by the Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to the holiday. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared for the influx of travelers; however, it is always a good idea for passengers to allow extra time at the airport around the holidays, especially those who have not traveled in a while.

The TAA continues to focus on doing what it can to make travel as low-stress as possible, spending more than half a million dollars since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers, employees, and visitors in the terminal through our TUS Cares Campaign. We look forward to connecting so many Southern Arizonans with loved ones this holiday season!