Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, projects that 47.5 million passengers will fly globally on U.S. airlines over the upcoming winter holiday travel period, from Thursday, December 19, through Sunday, January 5.
A4A projects an average of 2.6 million passengers will take to the skies each day over the holidays, up 3 percent over same period a year ago. To accommodate the increased demand, U.S. carriers will add 884 more flights and 88,000 additional seats per day during the 18-day holiday period.
“Throughout this year we’ve seen steady gains in air travel demand, and this winter will be no exception,” says John Heimlich, A4A vice president and chief economist. “Buoyed by a healthy economy and plentiful, affordable air service, travelers once again are expected to take to the skies in record numbers.”
This busy winter holiday season follows a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period, where the TSA screened more than 26 million passengers and crew members.
