Memorial Day Weekend Drives Record Travel at Chicago, Arkansas Airports

Memorial Day weekend marks one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S., with airports and roads experiencing record crowds as millions of Americans head out for the holiday. At Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), travelers expressed relief at the ease of navigating the airport despite delays and anxieties about flying. In the Chicago area, O'Hare and Midway airports prepared for a significant surge, with O'Hare expecting over 1.5 million travelers and a nearly 7% increase from last year, while around 39 million people nationwide are projected to travel by car. Airlines like American and United have planned months in advance to accommodate the increased demand, and the holiday travel period is the first to implement the new Real ID requirements, prompting advice for early arrivals. Despite concerns about traffic and crowds, some travelers reported smoother experiences than anticipated, helped by factors like lower gas prices and ongoing infrastructure projects encouraging public transit use. Overall, this Memorial Day weekend is on track to break travel records, surpassing those set in 2005, as families prioritize time together and leisure activities.