USA- As the Labor Day holiday approaches, US airlines and airports are bracing for a surge in travelers, including those heading to international destinations and cooler climates.
According to Hopper, a travel booking app, more than 20 million passengers are expected to take flights from U.S. airports from Thursday to Tuesday, marking a 14% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
This trend reflects the sustained growth in international travel observed in recent months.
US Airlines Labour Day
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipates screening over 14 million passengers from September 1 to September 6, underscoring the high volume of travelers during this holiday period.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske stated, “We expect this Labor Day holiday weekend to be quite busy, with passenger numbers anticipated to be nearly 11% higher than the previous year. This surge in travel follows a trend of increased passenger volumes that have already surpassed the levels seen during the 2019 Labor Day holiday.”
In recent months, U.S. travelers have been opting for more overseas journeys, benefiting from flexible work arrangements, the removal of coronavirus testing requirements, and the strength of the U.S. dollar.
According to AAA, a travel group, international bookings for flights, accommodations, rental cars, and cruises during the Labor Day weekend have seen a substantial increase of 44% compared to last year, while domestic bookings have also grown by 4% compared to last year.
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Strong Earnings
Travel operators with a significant international presence have reported robust earnings, with companies like Airbnb and Marriott projecting strong future demand driven by a robust global travel industry and increased room rates.
Jan Freitag, the National Director of Hospitality Analytics at CoStar Group, mentioned, “Room rates in the United States have seen a 2.5% increase during the first 26 days of August, and we expect similar year-over-year rate increases for the upcoming long weekend.”
According to AAA, the top five destinations for the long weekend include Vancouver, Rome, London, Dublin, and Paris. Domestic cruise bookings are also on the rise, estimated to be up by 19% compared to the previous year.
According to Hopper, airfare for domestic getaways is averaging $226 per ticket, marking an 11% decrease from the previous year and a 20% reduction from the Labor Day weekend in 2019.
Despite analysts anticipating steady demand for this weekend, Hurricane Idalia has wreaked havoc in specific regions of the United States, disrupting travel plans for thousands of people.
As Hurricane Idalia hit the Big Bend region of Florida earlier this week, over 1,500 flights experienced delays on Friday, and 60 flights were canceled, as the flight-tracking website Flightaware.com reported.
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