U.S. airlines are predicting another record Thanksgiving holiday travel period and are upbeat now that the travel-snarling government shutdown has ended.

Airlines will carry more than 31 million people between Friday, Nov. 21, and Monday, Dec. 1, Airlines for America, a lobbying group representing the largest U.S. carriers, predicted Thursday. The busiest days are expected to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, with about 3.4 million people flying, followed by the Monday after Thanksgiving, with around 3.1 passengers.

Airline executives have expressed relief after the longest-ever government shutdown ended Nov. 12. Shortages of air traffic controllers , who were required to work without their regular pay, delayed and canceled flights , disrupting travel plans for some 6 million peo

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