Trade group Airlines for America expects up to 45.7 million travelers will take to the skies heading home for the holidays or jetting off on Christmas vacation.
A4A says that represents a 5.2% increase of about 126,000 travelers per day from last year.
US based airlines have added an extra 143,000 seats daily to meet demand of an average of 2.54 million passengers per day.
The holiday period runs from Thursday, December 20 through Sunday, January 6.
Daily passenger volumes are expected to range from 2.1 million to 2.9 million on Friday, December 21, the busiest day for air travel.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are expected to be the quietest days for passenger numbers.
"Airlines are investing and work in close coordination with the TSA, including by expanding the use of biometrics and innovative screening technology and encouraging more passengers to enroll in Trusted Traveler Programs," said A4A vice president of security and facilitation, Lauren Beyer.
