Dec. 10--Some 45 million passengers are expected to fly during the winter holidays, up 2 percent from last year, with Dec. 19 (a Friday), expected to be the heaviest travel day at American airports, according to a forecast released Wednesday by airline industry group Airlines for America.
Because of how holidays fall this year, the group considered the winter holidays to be the 19 days from Dec. 17 to Jan. 4.
As usual, the lightest air travel days will be Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Chicago O'Hare airport is expected to be the third-busiest airport after Atlanta and Los Angeles.
To accommodate demand, airlines have been adding seats at the fastest clip since the 2008 recession, mostly by using larger aircraft, which during the holiday period are expected to be 80 to 90 percent full, the airline group said.
John Heimlich, chief economist for Airlines for America, said airlines are upgrading their airplanes and airports at a spending rate that's the highest in 13 years.
"Travelers will continue to benefit from the significant investments U.S. airlines are making -- to the tune of more than $1 billion per month -- into amenities at the airport and in the skies that further enhance the travel experience."
gkarp@tribpub.com
Twitter @spendingsmart
