Holiday travel rush picks up in Chicago area as travelers head out for the new year

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is forecasting another record-breaking year for holiday travel in 2025.

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At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, 28 flights had been canceled by 10 a.m., primarily due to weather conditions. Similar disruptions affected flights at Midway Airport as well.

ABC7 meteorologist Jaisol Martinez reported on the fog that rolled into the area early Friday morning, impacting travel plans.

O’Hare Airport was a hive of activity, with countless travelers embarking on journeys across the country.

Among the travelers was Dave Kelley, who mentioned he was returning to Florida after celebrating Christmas with his family in Chicago.

For additional insights, check out what Americans need to know about traveling to Mexico during the winter, especially in light of heightened travel advisories.

In Chicago, passenger volume is expected to climb nearly 6% from last year’s travel period.

At O’Hare, the projected busiest travel day already happened on Sunday. Dec. 20.

But at Midway, their busiest travel day is expected on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Nationwide, TSA predicts the heaviest traveler volume on Sunday.

Foggy conditions did reduce visibility at both airports early Friday morning.

However, mostly everyone ABC7 spoke to said they had their travel plans fairly uninterrupted.

“Not too bad, no one’s yelling or anything like that. It’s fairly early, so everyone’s pretty chill,” Kosi Ogbuli said.

For those planning on driving, traffic is expected to be busiest from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, according to AAA.

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