US airlines are preparing for the holiday travel rush at the end of the year to be busier than the same peak period a year ago, when thousands of flights were cancelled due to storms, and congestion at airports fueled traveler angst across the nation.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, Thursday is shaping up to be the busiest travel day of the week. Officially the holiday period will run from Thursday through January 2nd, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

According to Airlines for America (A4A), the US airline trade group, carriers are expected to fly over 39 million passengers during the holidays, or about 2.8 million passengers per day, an increase of 16% over 2022.

A4A noted that in the United States and Canada, airports and airlines have been hiring additional workers and upgrading systems and equipment in an effort to avoid the congestion seen last year at airports during the holiday rush. The trade group noted that currently US passenger airlines have more employees working to ease the strain than they have had in the last two decades.

The airlines want to avoid a repeat of the high-profile meltdown which happened in 2022 to Southwest Airlines, which led to 17,000 flights being canceled, and cost the airline over $1 billion, as well as a historic penalty from the US Department of Transportation.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority noted that the largest airport in Canada has increased its staffing, expanded its deicing operations, and acquired new, advanced snowplows. During peak travel periods last year the airport struggled with congestion which led to hard limits on flights.

United Airlines however, through a spokesperson, said that the airline is not currently expecting weather to cause any operational interruptions, even as the airline is poised to have its busiest-ever end of the year holiday travel period.

Airlines in the US are predicting increasing demand for sun destinations during this holiday period, as they look at an 18% increase in seats flying from the US to Caribbean resort destinations compared to last year, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. In addition, Florida’s Orlando International Airport is expecting to see record crowds over the holiday period.