A record 158.2 million passengers will fly globally on U.S. airlines between March 1 and April 30, industry trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) forecasts.
If the prediction is accurate, this will be 4.3 percent higher than the number of passengers who flew during the same period last year.
“Low fares, abundant air service and a healthy economy continue to attract a record number of travelers to the skies,” John Heimlich, A4A vice president and chief economist, said. “We’re in a period of unprecedented access to air travel – flyers of all income levels have a wide array of products and providers to choose from when traveling from one city to another or one country to another.”
Domestic airlines are adding 129,000 additional seats daily this spring to accommodate 106,000 additional passengers.
Nearly half of Americans have flown at least once in the past year, according to A4A-commissioned research conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. A total of 72 percent traveled for personal reasons.
Last year, overall flyer satisfaction was above 80 percent, according to the study, with higher levels for those enrolled in trusted traveler programs.
U.S. airlines invested nearly $121 billion to enhance the product and improve the passenger experience between 2010 and 2018.