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US Airlines Prepare for Strong Summer After Last Year’s Woes
U.S. airlines are gearing up for a surge in air travel this summer, hoping for a smoother season after last year’s travel difficulties caused by delays, cancellations, pilot and crew shortages, and increasing fuel prices. According to the TSA data, passenger traffic is already increasing and has surpassed the same dates from previous years. For instance, Delta Air Lines is expecting nearly 2.8 million passengers for the Memorial Day holiday period, which is a 17% increase from 2022. Similarly, American Airlines is expecting 2.9 million customers and nearly 27,000 flights over Memorial Day weekend.
What to Expect
The air travel capacity issue still exists, but the biggest problem of pilot shortages from last year is now “more under control,” according to industry analysts. Despite this, the current capacity constraints are coming from jet makers, and some markets are still not back to pre-COVID levels.
The “shortage of seats” is unlikely to go away soon, which will keep ticket prices high, but they will not be as high as last year. Airlines are still facing labor problems, and some businesses have thrown money at hiring new pilots and other employees to overcome pandemic-related early retirements and hiring difficulties.
The Return of Travel
The return of travel has shifted from “revenge travel” to “people finding out that they really missed travel,” according to analysts. The ability of those who can afford air travel to work remotely has increased their travel flexibility, leading to longer holidays where they blend work and travel.
Challenges Ahead
The Labor cost is one of the most significant price pressures faced by airlines. Some companies signed new contracts with employees last year, including Southwest and Alaska airlines. United Airlines is still in the process of negotiating their contract. Meanwhile, another chokepoint is caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers, particularly in the busy northeast corridor. Summer weather is also a potential roadblock as summer storms can be the worst from the operational standpoint.
Despite these potential challenges, the industry expects strong summer air travel, and there is also the possibility of a stronger September and October sales period as experienced last year.
