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| A4A estimates a 3 percent increase in passengers for the labor day weekend. Photo: A4A |
[Avionics Today 08-19-2015] Airlines for America (A4A) has projected 14.2 million people will fly over the Labor Day holiday period, a 3 percent increase from last year. A4A reported that airlines are ready for the uptick in passengers, adding capacity and reporting average U.S. profitability that has enabled them to invest in new planes, service, and technology at the highest rate in 15 years.
During the seven-day Labor Day travel period (from Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Tuesday, Sept. 8), A4A expects 14.2 million (2 million per day) air travelers will take to the skies, up approximately 59,000 passengers per day from the same period in 2014, when 13.8 million passengers were estimated to have flown. Friday, Sept. 4, is expected to be the busiest day of the period. The projection includes 1.6 million travelers on international flights. To accommodate the expected growth in passenger volumes, airlines have boosted schedules by a comparable number of available seats.
“A4A projected an all-time high for summer travel this year and year-over-year increases continue,” said John Heimlich, A4A vice president and chief economist. “With capacity increasing and airfares trending downward, air travel continues to be more accessible and a bargain for cost-conscience consumers.”