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The Air Transport Association anticipates U.S. airlines will carry just over 206 million passengers from June through August. That’s about 3 million more than for the same period last year, an increase of 1 ½%. John Heimlich is the trade group’s chief economist.
“We do have continued U.S. job creation, world G.D.P. growth several quarters in a row, corporate profitability, which has led to a relaxation in business travel to generate new revenue streams, and industry continues to climb out of a 2009 slump, and there’s been a generally worldwide increase in the demand for air travel since then.”
The association reports that airlines are concerned about high energy prices dampening demand for air travel. The price of jet fuel is now at its highest level since the third quarter of 2008.
