As traffic increases, airlines claim they are ready for a busy holiday season.
This is happening against a backdrop of a summer filled with canceled and delayed flights.
The industry claims it is prepared for the task and has addressed staffing and flying schedules.
According to Airlines for America, which represents major airlines like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines, domestic airlines are confident that the Thanksgiving travel week will go smoothly because they have adjusted schedules and hiring requirements to meet the current flight demand.
With more than two million people taking to the skies every day, "U.S. airlines are going above and beyond to assist you have a safe holiday travel season," Sharon Pinkerton, a senior policy adviser at A4A, said.
After a less-than-perfect summer in which U.S. carriers canceled more than 59,000 flights and delayed more than 630,000 others between May 1 and August 31, according to statistics from FlightAware, the industry organization is nonetheless optimistic going into next week.
Airlines are optimistic about holiday travel
Airlines have cut flying schedules and intensified hiring efforts above pre-pandemic employment levels in response to what A4A characterized as a "difficult summer," and according to organization data, there are 10% more pilots working for A4A carriers now than pre-pandemic.
Pinkerton stated that "we are over our pre-pandemic levels of employment" and that "Airlines have reduced their schedules to ensure that they have the resources and capacity for the complete travel calendar."
Airlines have also raised personnel reserves in response to rising absenteeism among employees while COVID-19 is still in circulation and a general reluctance to work extra overtime.
The company nevertheless cautioned visitors that it might be challenging to avoid some problems.
This may include the constant risk of inclement weather or air traffic control restrictions, which have occasionally throttled flight capacity over the previous year.
Airlines are undoubtedly prepared at this time.
Truthfully, what's new is that we've hired thousands more individuals "Pinkerton kept going.
"In general, we are far ahead in every area of staffing; we hired more people and want to keep doing so.
Less passengers than before the pandemic
Airlines predict that passenger volumes won't mirror 2019 levels until 2023 at the earliest, citing a decline in passenger demand in regions formerly dependent on business and transpacific travel, despite the fact that air travel traffic is recovering as a result of the widespread lifting of global travel restrictions.
According to A4A Chief Economist John Heimlich, "We are witnessing a dearth in long-haul international travel and corporate travel."
Although not consistently returning to [levels from 2019], travel demand is high.
According to Transportation Security Administration data provided by A4A, weekend passenger volumes have decreased the least overall, indicating a move toward leisure travel.
Weekends, according to Heimlich, are busy travel days for leisure travelers but not for business travelers.
The pent-up demand still has time to manifest, according to Heimlich.
Airports anticipate seeing more passengers per day than they did last year as travelers pour into airports around the nation this week and into the following week, beginning on Thursday.
For instance, on November 17 and 18, the Thursday and Friday before the actual Thanksgiving holiday, authorities estimate approximately 200,000 travelers each day at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
According to an LAX spokeswoman, that equates to about 20,000 more people per day than at this time last year, but only 80% to 90% of 2019 numbers.
People are spacing out their travel throughout the course of the week, which will hopefully lead to more efficient operations, according to Pinkerton.
90% of flights will be compared to 2019 travel schedules, and Chicago-based United Airlines expects more than 5.5 million passengers during the same time period, an increase of 12% from 2021.
According to an email from United, "We're on schedule to add 15,000 people this year, including pilots, flight attendants, ramp staff, and customer service agents to help support our growing business.
More than 460,000 passengers are anticipated to fly with United on Sunday, Nov. 27, making it the busiest travel day since before the pandemic, according to predictions.
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