Thanksgiving is around the corner, but you wouldn’t know it from the palm trees outside Miami International Airport. The weather feels the same, the cafecito lines are still long and the only sign the holidays are coming is the slow-moving security line that wraps around the terminal.

According to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, nearly 1.9 million passengers are expected to travel through MIA during the 12-day Thanksgiving travel period, just slightly more than last year’s 1.86 million. Officials say it’s another sign that air travel is not just back but booming, as the Transportation Security Administration predicts its busiest Thanksgiving season ever across the country.

“I’m flying home to Miami from Houston,” said Miami native Sophia Stock. “Everyone complains about travel chaos, but honestly, it feels like part of the ritual now. You see families hugging, people in flip-flops next to people in coats. It’s peak Miami energy.”

Passenger totals at MIA have climbed steadily since 2019, with this year projected to be one of the busiest on record. Airport officials say the mix of locals leaving town and tourists flying in for warm weather keeps the terminals packed through the holiday week.

New York, Atlanta, and Orlando rank as the top destinations for Miami flyers Thanksgiving week, with hundreds of flights scheduled to each city.

The balance is nearly even -- about 2,150 departures and 2,030 arrivals, showing that Miami is just as much a destination as it is a starting point.

“It’s funny,” said Stock. “Everyone else is packing coats, and I’m packing light and hoping my flight isn’t late for pastelitos and turkey.”

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