ATA Says Fewer Planes Will Fly at Thanksgiving

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) is telling travelers to expect full flights during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel season, even though about 37,000 fewer people per day are expected to fly during the holiday period compared with last year. That’s because U.S. carriers have reduced capacity to match demand and offset higher costs.

The ATA estimates that about 23.2 million air travelers will fly on U.S. carriers’ domestic and international routes during a 12-day period surrounding the holiday—a 2 percent year-over-year drop—and down from the 23.6 million people who flew over the Thanksgiving period in 2010. The 2011 forecast anticipates that total volumes for the period will be 12 percent less than the peak volumes reached in the same period in 2006.

“While demand is down from last year and remains well below the 2006 peak, passengers still should expect full flights during the Thanksgiving holiday travel season as airlines have begun to reduce capacity and limit the number of seats available for sale due in part to rising cost pressures,” said John Heimlich, ATA vice president and chief economist. “Based on published airline schedules, these cuts are expected to continue through the winter.”

Daily passenger volumes during this holiday period will range from 1.3 million to 2.3 million. Based on sample data from 2009 and 2010, the busiest air-travel days for the period are expected to be Sunday, Nov. 27 and Monday, Nov. 28, followed by Friday, Nov. 18, with load factors exceeding 85 percent.