Delta Gears Up for Bustling Winter Holiday Travel Period

Buoyed by its strongest month of the year and a smooth Thanksgiving holiday for customers, Delta is gearing up to welcome another nearly 9 million people during the winter holiday travel period running from 21 December, 2023 to 7 January, 2024.

As always, Delta people are ready for high-volume travel days when customers need the same safe, clean, on-time experience they’ve come to expect – with their bags awaiting them.

Roughly 6.4 million customers experienced the Delta Difference over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Nov. 17-28, including five “brand days” – days in which zero flights operated by Delta and Delta Connection carriers were canceled. (There have been 30 brand days in 2023, ten of which occurred in November.) 

The airline canceled only 12 flights during that holiday span.  

“With a successful November and Thanksgiving operation behind us, Delta people are prepared to deliver a world-class experience for our customers over the holidays," said Chief Operating Officer Mike Spanos. “Together, our global team and partners will safely and reliably connect millions of people as they celebrate the season." 

Customers are encouraged to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight. Additional time may be recommended Dec. 21-22 and again Dec. 26-30, as they are expected to be the busiest days of the holiday period. 

Delta’s Operations and Customer Center serves as the airline’s “mission control” for more than 4,000 flights a day – staffed 24/7 and constantly communicating with crews and frontline teams to ensure the most seamless, safe and on-time service possible, even through high volume and weather challenges.

Among many other functions, the OCC maintains its own meteorology team, constantly monitoring forecasts for weather and turbulence and working with other Delta experts around the clock to adjust flight plans and schedules as necessary.