145 Million Passengers Expected To Fly This Spring, an increase of 4%
145 Million Passengers Expected To Fly This Spring
According to Airlines For America, the U.S. airline industry is expected to see 145 million passengers, approximately 2.4 million per day, to fly globally on U.S. airlines between March 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017. This hike would be an increase of 4% over Spring 2016 where 140 million passengers flew on a U.S. airline. Airlines For America also noted that U.S. airlines are adding “110,000 seats per day across their networks to accommodate the 89,000 additional daily passengers expected to fly on U.S. carriers during this period.”
The airline lobbying group also provided some facts regarding the U.S. and global airline industry:
- U.S. and foreign airlines in 2016 added 198 new routes and discontinued 161 routes, equating to a net growth of 37 nonstop routes year-over-year serving consumers traveling to and from U.S. airports. Airlines in 2017 have already added 151 new routes, while discontinuing 134 routes for a net growth of 17 routes.
- Over the past two years, fliers saw net expansion of 54 nonstop routes to and from U.S. airports.
- The supply of daily scheduled seats departing U.S. airports (U.S. and foreign airlines) grew 3.9 percent from 2015 to 2016 and is currently showing 4.1 percent growth between 2016 and 2017.
It’s clear that more people are flying, mostly due to cheaper airfare prices year over year which is one of the many reasons airlines no longer need to attract frequent flyers into their programs. Just look at all the devaluations from the major U.S. airlines in the last three years alone. Airlines no longer need to fill seats, if anything, they are finding more ways to add more seats in the main cabin.
Read the full press release here
