Record Airport Traffic in the US on Sunday Post-Thanksgiving: Are Airline Stocks Poised for Growth Through 2026?
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 02 2025
0mins
Should l Buy LUV?
Source: Benzinga
Record Airport Traffic: TSA set a new record by screening 3,133,924 passengers on November 30, 2025, surpassing the previous record of 3,096,797 set in June 2025, with all top 10 busiest days occurring in 2024 or 2025.
Impact on Airline Stocks: The surge in passenger traffic is seen as potentially beneficial for major U.S. airlines like American Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest, especially following a recent government shutdown that affected operations.
Overall Passenger Screening: From November 25 to December 1, over 18 million passengers were screened, indicating a strong travel trend during the Thanksgiving holiday.
ETF Performance: The US Global Jets ETF, which includes major airline stocks, experienced a 1.71% increase, nearing a 52-week high, reflecting positive sentiment in the airline sector due to the record traffic.
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Analyst Views on LUV
Wall Street analysts forecast LUV stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 48.270
Low
34.00
Averages
44.21
High
60.00
Current: 48.270
Low
34.00
Averages
44.21
High
60.00
About LUV
Southwest Airlines Co. (Southwest) operates Southwest Airlines, a passenger airline that provides scheduled air transportation in the United States and near-international markets. The Company's fare products include four categories: Wanna Get Away, Wanna Get Away Plus, Anytime, and Business Select to provide customers options when choosing a fare. It also offers ancillary services, such as EarlyBird Check-In, Upgraded Boarding, and transportation of pets and unaccompanied minors, in accordance with Southwest’s respective policies. Its Rapid Rewards loyalty program enables program members to earn points for every dollar spent on Southwest base fares, also including purchases paid with LUV Vouchers, gift cards, or flight credit, with no portion of the purchase price paid with Rapid Rewards points. It operates over 803 Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet and serves 117 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and ten near-international countries.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Economic Data Focus: This week, the market will focus on U.S. employment data and economic indicators, with the ADP employment change expected to rise by 40,000 and the ISM services index anticipated to slip slightly, indicating potential economic slowdown.
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- Strong Manufacturing Index: The US February ISM manufacturing index unexpectedly rose to 52.4, surpassing the market expectation of 51.5, indicating economic resilience that could influence the Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction, leading to shifts in future rate hike expectations.
- Optimistic Earnings Outlook: More than 90% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 73% exceeding expectations, and Q4 earnings growth is projected at 8.4%, providing market support despite geopolitical risks.
See More
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- American Airlines Expansion Plans: American Airlines announced a $1 billion investment to expand Concourse D at Miami International Airport, with construction set to begin in 2027 and the expanded concourse expected to open around 2030, aimed at enhancing customer experience and accommodating future growth demands.
- Venezuela Flight Application: American Airlines' regional unit Envoy Air has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation for scheduled flights from Miami to Venezuela, marking a potential resumption of services following the lifting of a 2019 ban, thereby expanding market opportunities.
See More
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- Surge in Energy Prices: The halt of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to Iran's attacks on three oil tankers led to WTI crude oil prices soaring over 65% to an 8.25-month high, potentially exacerbating global inflationary pressures.
- Defense Stocks Rise: The ongoing conflict in Iran has bolstered earnings prospects for defense companies, with Aerovironment's stock rising over 12%, while Northrop Grumman and RTX Corp also saw increases of over 4%, reflecting market optimism about defense spending.
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