Airlines for America, the primary trade group representing U.S. airlines, is expecting a record rise in air travelers this spring—4% compared to last year. That nets out to roughly 145 million travelers through April 30, or 2.4 million travelers per day.
In other words, a lot of people.
Related:85% of Travelers Are Satisfied with Airlines. Really?
For travelers, this has significant implications. Airlines plan to add 110,000 seats per day to accommodate this jump in traffic, but don’t be surprised if flights are full. This matters not just in terms of airfares (which the AP reports might begin nudging up as jet fuel prices rise) but also on matters of convenience like seat selection.
With packed planes, travelers may feel compelled to pay a premium for the seats they want, whether it’s a specific location on the plane or to sit with family or traveling companions. This, of course, adds to the cost and hassle of the flight.
An increase in travelers also means crowded airports. It may be worth giving yourself a few extra minutes at the airport, or at least keeping an ear out for stories of long waits at TSA checkpoints. The TSA has made meaningful changes to its airport operations, namely hiring more screeners, after long waits crippled airports last year. Still, peak travel times such as holidays and school vacations might be compounded by the extra traffic.
This growth in air travel is part of a larger trend. According to the DOT, a record 823 million passengers took to the skies last year, the first time that number topped 800 million. It’s possible 2017 could break that record.
More from SmarterTravel: TSA Pat Downs Just Got a Lot More Personal Free Coach Meals on American’s Transcontinental Flights. Yay! Join JetBlue’s Program, Fly, Earn 5,000 Bonus Points
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
You can’t escape the orange. That’s what travelers this summer have been reckoning with — swaths of tangerine, traffic cone and burnt sienna on maps indicating record high temperatures around the globe. Four concurrent heat domes from the southern United States to East Asia descended on millions — Phoenix residents enduring 31 days of 110-degree-plus temperatures. Italians in more than a dozen cities under extreme weather warnings. And in South Korea, at least 125 people were hospitalized for heat-related conditions at the World Scout Jamboree.
A woman is suing Unifi Aviation after she reportedly witnessed one of the company's employees fatally "ingested" into a Delta airplane's engine, according to documents viewed by Insider.
August brings the last month of peak seasonal temperatures. There is also a last hurrah of summer travel before school resumes. Labor Day weekend signals that fall is right around the corner. As has been the case for most of the year, the travel restrictions are minimal for most destinations.
In the heart of the enchanting Chianti wine region in Tuscany, Italy, stands an exquisite 16th-century stone farmhouse called "Villa Ardore." Transformed into a luxurious sanctuary for love and acceptance, this remarkable venue is a testament to the enduring power of passion and the triumph of progress over adversity.
Enter the Clos Du Bois “Spring in Sonoma” sweepstakes by April 26, 2016, for a chance to win one of the two grand prizes: trips for two to Sonoma, including air, three nights’ hotel, and $700 spending money.
When airlines announce new service between two cities, it doesn’t just create more flight options. It also drives down airfares. This spring, new routes from major carriers like American, JetBlue, United, and Virgin America will mean big savings on service both in the U.S. and abroad. Here are the 10 routes with the best potential for bargains.
“Best airport” rankings aren’t typically the most helpful in terms of travel planning: If I want to go to Boston, I’m not going to head for Las Vegas instead because its airport is better. But those best airport lists do come in handy in two cases—when you have a choice of airport for your connecting flight, and when you can choose between multiple airports within a single metro area.
Airlines shuffle route networks around every year, and in 2020 there are already some exciting new routes on a variety of airlines. Cheap flights are a common side effect of new route announcements, so these 13 destinations are likely to see lower airfares in 2020.