TSA Says Over 17 Million People Will Fly Over Labor Day Weekend

Image: Crowd of travelers inside an airport terminal. (Photo Credit: tong2530/Adobe)

by Jessica Puckett
Last updated: 1:35 PM ET, Wed September 2, 2026

In a year of record air travel demand, crowds aren’t slowing down during Labor Day Weekend.

Fliers should expect a busy Labor Day travel stretch at airports and aboard planes across the country.

More than 17 million people will take to the skies over the long weekend, according to a social media post from the TSA.

Crowds will begin to swell at hubs throughout the United States on Thursday, September 3, and airports will remain chaotic through Tuesday, September 8, according to predictions from major airlines.

United said it expects to fly 300,000 more people over Labor Day than last year, with more than 3.4 million customers scheduled for takeoff during the period from September 3 to 8. That’s about 560,000 people boarding 4,700 flights per day.

The Chicago-based carrier says that Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 will be its busiest days over the holiday stretch, with almost 600,000 passengers flying on each day.

American Airlines predicts a total of 3.5 million passengers from September 3 to 8, according to ABC News. Nearly 500,000 of those fliers will transit through American’s main hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

Airfares are more expensive this Labor Day compared to the holiday in 2025, with domestic flights 2% higher, averaging $750 per ticket, according to data from AAA. Top domestic destinations, like Seattle and Orlando, are a whopping 20% higher than last year, AAA says.

International flights, on the other hand, are 4% cheaper this Labor Day period than in 2025, with the average roundtrip fare clocking in at $1,240.

Here’s a look at the most popular destinations for Labor Day 2026, according to AAA data: