U.S. Federal Aviation Administration sent this bulletin at 09/02/2026 11:44 AM EDT
Week of August 31, 2026
Labor Day Flight Forecast
The FAA is expecting a busy holiday travel weekend. Between Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Tuesday, Sept. 8, we’re forecasting more than 280,000 flights. Thursday will be the busiest travel day with nearly 54,000 expected flights.
The FAA installed the 100th Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) last week. This updated technology allows air traffic controllers to track aircraft and airport vehicles in real time, improving safety and efficiency. A total of 220 airports will be getting SAI. The most recent airports to start using it are: Ann Arbor Municipal, Billings-Logan International, Gulfport-Biloxi International, Greenville-Spartanburg International and Corpus Christi International.
This week’s guest Weather Squad forecaster is David Yeomans with CBS Chicago. David is forecasting a multi-day outbreak of severe weather in the North East. High temperatures persist in the Central U.S. while the Pacific Northwest gets some cooler weather.
ICYMI
The FAA announced that Elroy and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development conducted a hybrid-electric demonstration flight to test cargo deliveries using remotely piloted aircraft at Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana. This is the first remotely piloted aircraft test flight under the FAA’s eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP). Read more about these exciting demonstrations in our press release.
FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Dan Edwards was on hand this week to deliver Washington Manassas Airport (HEF) a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate, which allows the airport to accommodate certain commercial passenger airlines. Read more about this exciting development in our recent press release.
