Record-breaking July 4th holiday travel weekend expected with rocky start

The July 4 travel weekend saw a record number of people screened at airports, with nearly 2.9 million passengers passing through checkpoints on Friday, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Despite concerns of a travel meltdown due to United Airlines' elevated rate of flight cancellations and images of crowded airports, the airline recovered and the Northeast Corridor avoided severe weather. Other U.S. airlines also performed relatively well, with domestic airlines canceling only 1.7% of flights over the weekend. United Airlines offered 30,000 frequent flier miles to affected passengers as a goodwill gesture, and CEO Scott Kirby explained the challenges the airline faced due to air traffic control issues and operational challenges. Despite these difficulties, travel demand remains strong, with a recent survey showing that traveling is a top priority for many people.