California travelers should brace themselves for a busy week at the state's major airports as they catch flights in time to be settled for Thanksgiving dinner. Although the majority of Thanksgiving travelers are arriving by car,over 1.1 million travelers are expected to depart from California's airports for the holiday, according to AAA's annual travel report, which shows around 32,000 more travelers than this time last year.
Large numbers of flights have been canceled at major airports across California on the first day of the Federal Aviation Administration reducing air traffic in a bid to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown. Airlines are being forced to cut flights by 10% at the 40 busiest U.S. airports, causing major travel disruptions in California.
Already America's most populous state by a wide margin, California is also home to vital airports for millions of monthly domestic and international fliers - including Los Angeles International Airport, which is among the busiest transit hubs on the planet. The Federal Aviation Administration's looming reductions, set to take effect in less than 24 hours, could have significant impacts on commercial flights in and out of San Francisco International Airport, Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, San Diego International Airport, Ontario International Airport and LAX.