Demand strong for Thanksgiving flights
Trade group Airlines for America says travel demand for the Thanksgiving holiday remains strong despite ongoing anxiety over Ebola.
For the 12-day period A4A predicts 24.6 million people travel on American carriers, representing an increase of 1.5% over the same period in 2013.
It says about 10% of these will take overseas trips.
The busiest day for travel is forecast to be Sunday, November 30 when up to 2.6 million flyers will take to the air.
Thanksgiving Day itself, will be quietest at the nation’s airports.
A4A has forecast Atlanta to be the busiest airport during the holiday, followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York JFK and Denver.
John Heimlich, the trade group’s chief economist says Ebola fears have not impacted demand.
It does not seem to be affecting the psyche of the American traveling public,” he said.
Between the peak period of Thanksgiving and Christmas, seat capacity is up 2.2% this year and jet fuel costs are falling, Heimlich said, but that won’t translate into lower prices.
Orbitz.com says airfares will be an average 2% higher this year with prices starting to spike after November 18.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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