Travelers walk with luggage outside the International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) before traveling for the Fourth of July holiday in Los Angeles, California on June 25, 2024.
Mario Tama | Getty Images
U.S. air travel is expected to surge during the summer. On Sunday, June 23, the Transportation Security Administration screened 2.99 million people, surpassing the previous record set a few weeks earlier on May 24. TSA forecast Record-setting July 4th holiday. More than 3 million flyers are expected to be checked Friday, heading into Independence Day week.
The TSA expects to screen more than 32 million travelers in total between Friday, June 28, and Monday, July 8, with holiday travel volume increasing 5.4% annually.
The record number of air passengers comes as airlines face a host of challenges, from supply chain delays to tight regulations and a safety crisis at Boeing that limits the availability of new planes. Air traffic controller ‘fatigue’“Flight delays and rising costs caused by extreme weather have impacted airline profits and squeezed margins.
Airports are not quite ready to handle the initial summer rush. More than 6,000 flights delayed Friday night, May 24, only on the East Coast. While there may be enough flights to meet demand, record travel still poses a challenge for airports, airlines and travelers. So far, airlines have expressed confidence.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this week that the company’s performance levels were excellent and “reliability in the first quarter was the best in (Delta’s) history.” (Delta Airlines owns Best punctuality record In the U.S)
But it also requires coordination.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told “Squawk Box” that the airline is making sure to “operate the most reliable airline possible” but that factors that affect flight ontime vary from weather to air traffic control issues.
air traffic, extreme weather
The Federal Aviation Administration has found a shortage of as many as 3,000 air traffic controllers. The airport’s record-breaking summer last year saw air traffic jams and near-collision amid challenges in coordinating flights. New York City and Florida are at the highest risk for backups based on air traffic patterns and airport density.
The massive heat wave sweeping the United States has provided a glimpse into the extreme weather that could cause travel problems. this NOAA Damaging weather is expected during the holiday week, with storms expected in the Midwest and East Coast and dangerously high temperatures continuing in the interior Southwest and Northeast.
Extreme temperatures can cause technical glitches, which can lead to delays. High heat causes thin air, which will hinder the thrust of the aircraft to take off and rise. This means planes need more runway to take off from, or they need to be lighter – by removing luggage or passengers. This means very high temperatures increase the risk of flight cancellations. The best way to avoid this risk is to take early morning and late night flights.
Good news eases travel anxiety
Travelers can make the most of the busy summer season if they prepare and secure a backup plan. Despite travel anxiety and a host of uncertainties, Clint Henderson, travel expert and editor-in-chief of The Points Guy, said airlines and airports have so far shown to be better prepared than they have been in years signs.
Despite the problems in May, despite some Airlines cancel overall recruitment plan Henderson said that compared to past years, in part because of Boeing’s delays, “we’re not seeing the major disasters that we saw a few years ago. I think part of it is the airlines and the airports and everyone from Uber to rental cars The company, you know, you name it, everyone has backup staff.
United Airlines expects a 7% increase in passengers during the Independence Day week of 2023 and is making new hires. American Airlines expects a 10% annual increase in summer flights.
Air traffic controller coordination also continues to improve. “The federal government and local air traffic control towers, including the military, have been working better together. They’ve opened up military airspace to help accommodate the crowds, so we’re seeing chaos,” Henderson said. “There’s still a shortage of air traffic controllers “But it’s not leading to the worst outcomes we expected a year ago when we were talking about air traffic controller shortages.”
Still, he warned that a lack of air traffic control could exacerbate delays for travelers during bad weather.
Independence Day travel tips
As more travelers fall into the infrequent category this summer due to lower-than-expected prices, they should first sign up for airline apps, which may offer them some introductory offers, starting with miles and ending on certain flights. Free WiFi.
Henderson said the easiest ways to save hours of wait time include signing up for programs that get passengers through security faster, including TSA PreCheck and Clear, as well as the app-free mobile passport control app that allows users to pass Security check U.S. customs express lanes.
He also recommends the “Flighty” tracker app or a similar flight tracker to stay on top of your best options if your flight status changes. Passengers also need to stay informed about the routes their planned flights are already flying to detect problems at other airports that could ultimately lead to a rash of flight cancellations.
“If your flight is canceled, you’re competing with all the passengers on that plane to get on the next available flight. So if you’re ahead of those people, you’re going to be the winner,” Henderson said. For peak season When it comes to travel, “information is power,” he said.
Cheaper airfares may not stick around
Airline prices are down, but there are many factors that influence prices, from a traveler’s specific destination (prices vary widely depending on the route), to how far in advance tickets are purchased, midweek travel vs. weekend dates, and additional costs (such as luggage) This can significantly drive up the total cost of travel.
Additionally, the recent decline in fares may not last long as supply issues for new planes remain, from the FAA cutting Boeing production to Airbus running into supply chain chaos. Ultimately, Henderson expects airline prices to rise due to higher maintenance costs and reduced fleet capacity.
Labor and fuel costs per flight have soared over the past year. Airlines are spending billions of dollars flying less fuel-efficient, more expensive and aging planes due to production delays. Technical issues are more common in older plans and can also add to delays.
On June 26, Southwest Airlines lowered its second-quarter revenue forecast, citing booking issues. The company announced a drop in expected revenue per seat per mile, with fuel costs rising as much as 7.5% annually.
But for now, even with rising costs, airfares have yet to return to their summer 2023 peaks, and consumers are taking advantage. Henderson said many of the last-minute travel deals airlines offered this summer are still available. Even if security lines are long, prices on many routes shouldn’t affect travelers. Hopefully delays and cancellations won’t happen either.
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