Airlines for America projects that U.S. airlines will carry 28.5 million passengers during the 12-day Thanksgiving travel period. That figure represents a 3 percent increase over 2016, an additional 69,000 travelers, and comes as carriers add roughly 86,000 more seats compared with last year.
The 2017 Thanksgiving travel window runs Nov. 17–26. Airlines expect the busiest travel day to be Nov. 26, with other high-volume days on Nov. 22 and Nov. 17. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, is forecast to be the lightest day for travel. Daily passenger volumes during the period are projected to range from about 1.61 million to 2.88 million.
“Airline passengers continue to benefit from the highly competitive air-service landscape this holiday season, as low fares and increased availability of seats continue to make air travel widely accessible,” said John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist at Airlines for America.
Despite the rise in passenger numbers, airline profits have softened compared with last year. In the first nine months of 2017, nine U.S. carriers reported a combined pre-tax profit of $14.7 billion, down from $18.4 billion during the same period in 2016. Although overall revenue increased, expenses climbed faster: labor costs rose about 8.1 percent and fuel expenses increased roughly 17 percent, squeezing overall profitability.
For travelers, the combination of more available seats and competitive fares can mean better options and lower prices during the holiday travel surge. For the industry, higher operating costs underscore the challenge of balancing expanded service with rising expenses. Passengers planning to fly over the Thanksgiving window should expect heavy volumes on peak days and lighter traffic on Thanksgiving itself, and they may benefit from booking early to secure preferred flights and fares.