FAA sounds alarm as summer flyers approach July's biggest air traffic crunch

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is forecasting over 56,000 flights nationwide for Thursday, July 9, the agency told Fox News Digital.

The FAA's latest forecast calls for 56,311 flights, just eight fewer than the 56,319 flights recorded on June 25, the busiest day of the year so far.

"This has all added up to a ridiculously busy travel day in a normally very busy time of the year."

He said travelers who delayed their return flights may also have benefited from lower fares.

"I think that has to do with extended vacations and the fact that off-days are generally cheaper for flying. Flying today on a Thursday is cheaper than it would have been last Sunday or even Monday with the holiday weekend," Abbamonte said.

"Many people drive for the Fourth of July," Leff said.

"Now that summer is in full swing, schools are out and bigger summer trips are underway, you get a combination of return traffic from extended trips, mid-summer leisure demand and the heavy end-of-week airline schedule," Leff said.

"When possible, travel nonstop," he said. 

"Connections multiply the chances that something will go wrong."