Fewer fliers won’t mean roomier planes this summer Posted on May 15th
WASHINGTON - Fewer Americans are expected to fly this summer, but don’t expect more empty seats as carriers park planes to help offset surging fuel costs.
The trade group for the nation’s largest airlines on Tuesday forecast 211.5 million passengers will travel on domestic carriers between June 1 and Aug. 31. That would be a 1.3 percent drop from last summer.
Airlines are reducing their carrying capacity amid slower economic growth and rising jet fuel prices, the Air Transport Association said.
But planes will be nearly 85 percent full and delays emanating from New York-area airports will remain a problem, ATA President and Chief Executive James May said. Late flights cost carriers more than $10 billion annually, a drag on profits that have them “doing all they can to avoid lengthy delays,” May said.
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