Thousands of flights delayed, hundreds more canceled on Black Friday

Thousands of flights were delayed and hundreds more were canceled on Black Friday amid a busy holiday travel weekend.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects a record-breaking 18.3 million Americans to travel by air this Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

"This will be the busiest Thanksgiving ever in terms of air travel," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. "Fortunately, our staffing is also at the highest levels that they have ever been. We are ready."

But flight delays and cancellations can be unpredictable, and these travel disruptions have already affected thousands of people on Friday alone.

As of Friday at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, 13,655 flights have been delayed internationally, including 1,188 going within, into or out of the United States, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking site.

There have also been 426 flight cancellations internationally today, including 25 that were set to fly within, into or out of the U.S., FlightAware says.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in an emailed statement to Newsweek on Friday afternoon that it "safely moved more than 232,000 flights across the country between Nov. 24-28, a record number for the Thanksgiving week. More than 52,000 flights carried passengers to their destinations on Tuesday alone."

The statement continued: "Despite the record numbers, only 0.3 percent of flights were cancelled, and delays were a record low of 1.2 percent of flights. The FAA is ready for continued record flight volume through Monday. Today, low clouds and wind may cause some minor delays at New York airports and in Boston and Philadelphia. The Great Lakes area can expect snow Saturday through Monday."

Which U.S. Airports Are Seeing the Most Delays?

The Chicago O'Hare International Airport and the Chicago Midway International Airport had a total of 45 delays as of Friday at 12 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport saw 43 delays while Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and the Dallas Love Field Airport had 35 delays.

The three major airports serving New Yorkers—John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, LaGuardia Airport in Queens and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey—had a total of 28 delays.

Meanwhile, Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida experienced a total of 26 delays.

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had 20 delays while the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston saw 20 delays and one cancellation.

Meanwhile, the Boston Logan International Airport has 15 delays.

The three major airports in the Washington, D.C., area—the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport—saw a total of 15 delays.

Meanwhile, the Denver International Airport saw 10 delays.

How Might the Weather Impact Travel?

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings on Friday in areas of Alaska, Maine, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, while weather advisories are in place for other areas in those four states as well as in Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

It's currently snowing in Cleveland, Ohio. The storm is expected to bring in 1 to 3 inches of snow before it ends tomorrow at 5 a.m. local time.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, is expected to see 6 to 10 inches of snow during its current storm ending Tuesday at 3 a.m. local time.

It's also snowing in Syracuse, New York, and will snow later this afternoon in Buffalo, New York. But the snowfall will only last a few hours and there is expected to be little to no accumulation.

Besides flight delays and cancellations, severe weather can also impact road travel as streets become slippery from snow and ice.The American Automobile Association (AAA), meanwhile, estimates that nearly 80 million people will hit the road this Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

The NWS urges travelers to prepare for emergencies and avoid unnecessary trips. Residents in affected areas should keep emergency supplies in their vehicles, including food, water, and flashlights.

Hazardous road conditions, low visibility, and drifting snow will persist throughout the current storm system. Travelers are encouraged to monitor weather updates and road condition alerts through local 511 services.

The NWS said vigilance and preparation for travel are important as the winter storm continues to move across the country.