The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened more than 2.24 million travelers on Friday, November 19, the highest number screened in a single day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Travel + Leisure. The last time the TSA screened this many travelers on a single day was February 28, 2020, when the US saw more than 2.35 million people travel through its airports. In total, more than 8.5 million travelers flew from Thursday to Sunday, including four straight days when there were more than 2 million travelers each, according to TSA data. The record number comes ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, during which experts anticipate overall travel numbers will be within 5% of what they were in 2019. Last week, the TSA said it expects to screen about 20 million travelers during the busy Thanksgiving travel period, which lasts from Friday, November 19, to Sunday, November 28.

Amtrak has announced that it has implemented measures to help travelers reach their destinations safely and comfortably during the busiest travel week of the year. “With more than 500 destinations nationwide, Amtrak customers can avoid traffic, and enjoy free Wi-Fi on most trains, an easy boarding process, plenty of leg room and no middle seat as they travel to celebrate the holiday,” Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said. “We want to ensure our customers feel a renewed sense of confidence when they travel with us this holiday season.” Amtrak is also helping travelers stay safe through its extensive safety measures implemented under the guidance of a medical director and partnership with George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. These include mandatory facial coverings, onboard air filtration systems, real-time seat availability, no change fees through January 4, 2022, and touch-free options through the Amtrak app.

A recent study found that global business travel spending is expected to make a full return in 2024, when the sector is anticipated to return to pre-pandemic totals, reports Travel Pulse. According to a report from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), business travel industry spending reached $754 billion in 2021, a 14 percent increase over 2020, when spending declined by 53.8 percent to $661 billion. While 2021 saw the restart process begin, GBTA is predicting a year-over-year surge of 38 percent and an increase in business travel spending to around $1 trillion. In 2023, officials said global spending is expected to rise 23 percent year-over-year. Finally in 2024, GBTA forecasts global business travel making a full recovery and ending the year at $1.48 trillion, or just above the 2019 pre-pandemic spend of $1.4 trillion. The industry will follow the success up with a forecasted $1.5 trillion in spending for 2025.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg believes there are better ways to combat the spread of COVID-19 than requiring vaccine mandates for domestic commercial flights, reports The Washington Post. During an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," Buttigieg said strategies such as requiring masks and vaccinating travel industry workers are “highly effective.” "Between the masking and the other mitigations, we’re very confident in the safety of air travel and travel generally in this country,” he said. Buttigieg also noted that international visitors need to show proof of vaccination “because different countries have different standards.” The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the federal mask mandate for airports, planes, trains, and other mass transportation through January 18, 2022.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved Denmark and Germany to its highest-risk category for travel, reports CNN. The countries were given a Level 4 warning, which means the CDC is recommending that Americans avoid traveling there, even if vaccinated. Previously, the two destinations had been listed in the Level 3 category of "COVID-19 High" risk. In all, about 75 destinations are currently at Level 4, including Austria, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Countries and territories in this group have an infection incidence rate of more than 500 new cases per 100,000 people over the past 28 days (or, in places with fewer than 100,000 residents, more than 500 cases cumulatively over the past 28 days). In addition, the State Department also moved Denmark and Germany to its own "Level 4: Do Not Travel" list, along with Iraq and Burundi. The State Department warnings include other threats in addition to COVID-19, such as terrorism, civil unrest, crime, and natural disasters.