Orbitz Blog

If you’re traveling this Thanksgiving, don’t plan on moving anywhere too quickly — at least while you’re on the ground. Travel during Thanksgiving weekend can be slow no matter where you’re traveling, but some places are busier than others.

Orbitz just released a list of the Top 10 busiest airports in the country. Chicago’s O’Hare International ranks as the No. 1 most traveled airport during the weekend with LAX, Denver, San Francisco and Atlanta rounding out the Top 5. New York’s three area airports — La Guardia, JFK and Newark — along with Boston Logan and Seattle Tacoma International make up the rest of the Top 10. So if you’re planning on heading to or from any of these cities, make sure you are prepared for long waits at check-in and security.

Some Airports Actually Have Less Traffic
For the first time ever, Orbitz has tallied the Top 10 least busy airports.

So if you can pad a little extra travel time to or from the airport, it may make save your sanity to choose an alternate airport. For instance, if your plans take you to the San Francisco Bay Area, think about flying into San Jose International, which ranked as the easiest airport to travel through during Thanksgiving.

For anyone with family in the following cities, take a breath: These are the least busy airports during Thanksgiving weekend:

• San Jose, CA — San Jose International (SJC)
• Nashville, TN — Nashville International (BNA)
• Richmond, VA — Richmond International (RIC)
• Sacramento, CA — Sacramento International (SMF)
• Jacksonville, FL — Jacksonville International (JAX)
• West Palm Beach, FL — Palm Beach International (PBI)
• Hartford, CT — Bradley International (BDL)
• Orange County, CA — John Wayne International (SNA)
• Cincinnati, OH — Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
• Fort Myers, FL — Southwest Florida Regional (RSW)

Reduce Stress and Save Time
There are plenty of ways to ease the pain of the busy travel holiday. Check out Orbitz holiday travel tips for resources and information.

Top 50 Busiest Airports for Thanksgiving 2009

1. Chicago, IL — Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
2. Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles International (LAX)
3. Denver, CO — Denver International (DEN)
4. San Francisco, CA — San Francisco International (SFO)
5. Atlanta, GA — Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (ATL)
6. Boston, MA — Boston Logan International (BOS)
7. New York, NY — New York LaGuardia (LGA)
8. New York, NY — New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
9. Newark, NJ — New York Newark International (EWR)
10. Seattle, WA — Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)
11. Dallas, TX — Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
12. Orlando, FL — Orlando International (MCO)
13. Philadelphia, PA — Philadelphia International (PHL)
14. Minneapolis, MN — Minneapolis International (MSP)
15. Phoenix, AZ — Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
16. Washington, DC — Washington Ronald Reagan (DCA)
17. Detroit, MI — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
18. Las Vegas, NV — Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS)
19. Charlotte, NC — Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
20. Fort Lauderdale, FL — Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
21. Washington, DC — Washington Dulles International (IAD)
22. Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Washington International (BWI)
23. Miami, FL — Miami International (MIA)
24. Houston, TX  — Houston George Bush International (IAH)
25. Tampa, FL — Tampa International (TPA)
26. San Diego, CA  — San Diego International (SAN)
27. Raleigh, NC — Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)
28. Portland, OR — Portland International (PDX)
29. Milwaukee, WI — General Mitchell International (MKE)
30. Salt Lake City, UT — Salt Lake City International (SLC)
31. Pittsburgh, PA — Pittsburgh International (PIT)
32. Indianapolis, IN — Indianapolis International (IND)
33. Kansas City, MO — Kansas City International (MCI)
34. St Louis, MO — St. Louis Lambert International (STL)
35. Honolulu, HI — Honolulu International (HNL)
36. Austin, TX — Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS)
37. Cleveland, OH — Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE)
38. Columbus, OH — Port Columbus International (CMH)
39. San Antonio, TX — San Antonio International (SAT)
40. New Orleans, LA — Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY)
41. Fort Myers, FL — Southwest Florida Regional (RSW)
42. Cincinnati, OH — Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
43. Orange County, CA — John Wayne International (SNA)
44. Hartford, CT — Bradley International (BDL)
45. West Palm Beach, FL — Palm Beach International (PBI)
46. Jacksonville, FL — Jacksonville International (JAX)
47. Sacramento, CA — Sacramento International (SMF)
48. Richmond, VA — Richmond International (RIC)
49. Nashville, TN — Nashville International (BNA)
50. San Jose, CA — San Jose International (SJC)

Related Orbitz resources:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Orbitz holiday travel tips
  

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