Orbitz Insider Index says O'Hare the busiest at Thanksgiving

Chicago O'Hare International Airport once again is expected to outpace all other domestic airports over the Thanksgiving holiday, with 20 percent more flight activity than second place Los Angeles International, Orbitz said today.

Boston Logan International ranks third on the list of busiest airports, with the three New York tri-state airports capturing the fourth (La Guardia), seventh (John F. Kennedy) and eighth spots (Newark).

Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) looked at the top 100 U.S. airports based on arriving, departing and connecting flights to determine the most and least busy for Thanksgiving travel occurring between Nov. 23 and Nov. 29.

This year's Insider Index features a list of the least busy nearby alternatives, including Chicago Midway, for Thanksgiving travelers who have not yet booked their flights.  

“The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel periods each year, and before we settle down for dinner with family and friends, most of us will face a few travel-related frustrations,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, senior travel editor of Orbitz.com.  “Thankfully, there are some tips and tricks to help alleviate those frustrations, and for those still thinking about traveling, some great alternative airports that take you off the beaten path.”

According to the Air Transport Association of America, travelers can expect to face a 3.5 percent year-over-year increase in the number of passengers on U.S. airlines expected during the last two weeks of November. The ATA projects a total of 24 million travelers taking domestic flights over that period.