Thanksgiving Forecast: 27 Million Fliers, +4% Over 2006

[Matt Molnar]

More Thanksgiving travelers expected this year
ATA forecasts 27 million to fly over 12 days, planes at 90 percent capacity

Updated 7:31 p.m. ET, Mon., Nov. 12, 2007

WASHINGTON - The airline industry is urging Thanksgiving travelers to get to the airport extra early this year, and to expect longer-than-usual lines at security checkpoints, due to an anticipated 4 percent jump in passenger traffic.

Domestic carriers are expected to fly roughly 27 million passengers worldwide over 12 days beginning Nov. 16, with planes about 90 percent full, the Air Transport Association said Monday.

The anticipated uptick in demand comes as the industry struggles through a year of record-low punctuality. Through September, more than 24 percent of flights arrived late, according to the Transportation Department, the industry’s worst on-time performance since comparable data began being collected in 1995. Read More...

[mirrodie]

THank goodness I am fortunate not to have to travel for the holidays.

I may not love long lines and security inadequacies, but add to that pax who don't usually travel and cause even more delay. I feel sorry for those who have to put up with it.

[adam613]

THank goodness I am fortunate not to have to travel for the holidays.

Rub it in, why don't you... :evil:

[Ari707]

and of course none of them are checking any luggage and are all carrying on 3 bags plus their turkey....

[Iberia A340-600]

Hopefully not too many people are heading to Europe on Thursday night from JFK...

[hiss srq]

My grandparents are two days after the turkey day to go see our family back in Italy.

[RDU-JFK]

and of course none of them are checking any luggage and are all carrying on 3 bags plus their turkey...

Hahaha Amen to that...

I, too, am lucky enough not to be flying this Thanksgiving week. When I'd travel home from RDU for Thanksgiving weekend I'd always fly US ERJ-145s so it was nice not to have to stress about finding an overhead bin.

[hiss srq]

I did not know overhead bins were hard to find. Afterall they are indeed called overhead bins for a reason! :lol:

[mirrodie]

THank goodness I am fortunate not to have to travel for the holidays.

Rub it in, why don't you... :evil:

Sorry dude. I feel for you.

We flew out on Christmas eve a few years ago. Not so bad. But these days, I tell you, while I love flying and used to look forward to it, its the people that suck the fun out of it.

[adam613]

We flew out on Christmas eve a few years ago. Not so bad. But these days, I tell you, while I love flying and used to look forward to it, its the people that suck the fun out of it.

Me too. I used to love flying...now, I go out of my way to avoid it...I bet every regular on this board has been on an airplane more recently than I have :)