Air Travel Expecting Record-Breaking Year-End Holiday Traffic

Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal is expected to be part of the busiest end-of-year holiday for U.S. air travel on record.

Between Dec. 21, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026, the peak period for air travel this Christmas and New Year’s, airlines are scheduled to operate nearly 465,000 arriving and departing seats on flights at PIT. That is up nearly 6 percent from the same period last year when airlines operated almost 439,000 combined seats.

Like with Thanksgiving travel in November, air service additions are a major contributing factor to the additional capacity at PIT. Recent additions include JetBlue resuming daily service to Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 2 and American Airlines commencing seasonal nonstop service to Punta Cana on Dec. 6. Delta Air Lines, meanwhile, will resume its Saturday-only nonstop service to Orlando on Dec. 20 for the first time since 2019.

Other routes added in 2025 that are driving up capacity at the airport include Allegiant Air’s twice-weekly nonstops to Phoenix, which began in February; American Airlines’ daily service to Los Angeles, which resumed in April; JetBlue’s daily flights to New York-JFK, relaunched in May; and Breeze Airways’ twice-weekly flights to Greenville/Spartanburg, which started in May.

Additionally, airlines are increasing capacity on other popular routes from PIT. The largest increases in year-over-year capacity for December 2025 include Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and New York-LaGuardia on American; Philadelphia on Frontier Airlines; Boston on JetBlue; Austin, Denver, Nashville and Orlando on Southwest Airlines; and Chicago-O’Hare on United Airlines.

The national picture

Nationally, air travel is expected to hit a new record for the end-of-year holiday period. AAA estimates approximately 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from their homes between Dec. 20 and Jan. 1. That is a 2.2 percent increase from 2024’s record of 119.7 million travelers.

Nearly 8.03 million are expected to travel by air for Christmas and New Year’s, up 2.3 percent from last year. According to AAA, this will be the first time the number of domestic travelers will surpass 8 million for the period.

“People are eager to travel this holiday season,” Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a statement. “That’s leading to record numbers on the roads and in the skies. Our advice is to plan ahead. Book early, allow extra time to reach your destination, and think about travel insurance if you’re flying during winter weather. It’s the best way to protect both your trip and your peace of mind.”

Experts forecast the Friday before Christmas, Dec. 19, and the Friday and Saturday after Christmas, Dec. 26-27, to be the busiest for air travel this year. The lightest travel days are expected to be Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

According to AAA, the top domestic destinations for holiday travel this year are Florida, Southern California and Hawaii. The ten most popular markets by bookings:

1. Orlando
2. Fort Lauderdale
3. Miami
4. Anaheim/Los Angeles
5. Honolulu
6. Tampa
7. New York City
8. Maui
9. Dallas/Fort Worth
10. Las Vegas

Internationally, the most popular region for holiday travel in 2025 is the Caribbean, according to AAA, with Cancun and Punta Cana having the highest bookings in the region. Other popular Caribbean markets include Cozumel, Mexico; San Jose, Costa Rica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nasau, Bahamas; and Oranjestad, Aruba.

Travel tips

For many travelers, Christmas and New Year’s will be the first time they will transit through the new PIT terminal since its opening on Nov. 18.

The airport recommends travelers check for heavier-than-usual traffic with a GPS app and their flight status prior to leaving for the airport; while PIT has been honored for keeping flights operating in the winter, flights may be affected by conditions elsewhere, so travelers should verify their flight status with their airline, FlyPittsburgh.com, or a flight-tracking app.

READ MORE: Know Before You Go: Tips for Your Inaugural Trip at the New PIT

PIT offers several convenient parking options for travelers. The new Terminal Garage provides over 3,200 spaces, including 2,400 covered, and is a short 5-minute walk to the terminal. Nearby, the Terminal Lot offers more than 2,800 flat-grade spaces within a 3–5-minute walk. The former Long Term and part of the Extended Lot have been combined into the Shuttle Lot, offering more than 8,000 spaces and upgraded service with eight new 35-passenger shuttle buses running a 10-minute route to the terminal.

Holiday travel fills lots quickly, so reserving a space is strongly recommended. Travelers can pre-book space in Terminal Garage, Terminal Lot, or Shuttle Lot parking at PARKatPIT.com for discounted rates and guaranteed spots.

Additionally, PIT now offers its new Free Wait Lot that allows drivers picking up passengers to park for up to one hour at no cost, reducing congestion and eliminating roadside parking violations.

READ MORE: Onsite Airport Parking Is the Smart Traveler’s Choice

PIT advises travelers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights; note that some airline tickets counters open only two hours prior to departure. Morning and late afternoon hours are typically busier, so travelers with flights scheduled for those periods should allow for extra time. Travelers must present REAL ID or another acceptable government ID; details can be found on TSA’s website.

The new PIT terminal features a consolidated TSA checkpoint on the 3rd floor with up to 12 lanes, including dedicated lanes for TSA PreCheck and CLEAR members, and two Priority lanes for military and ADA travelers. The screening checkpoint features advanced scanners that produce 3D images and allow laptops, electronics and liquids (3.4 ounces or less) to remain in carry-on bags. Travelers should review TSA guidelines to understand what items are permitted.

Travelers with extra time can enjoy the airport’s concessions, which include nearly 20 new locations that have opened in the past year. PIT also features two lounges for travelers to relax in prior to their flights: American’s Admirals Club on the Core’s mezzanine level and The Club Lounge located in Concourse C.