Airline Industry Forecasts 45 Million Flyers This Holiday Season

An American Airlines A321T at JFK

If you are planning on going over the river and through the woods for the holiday season, you are not going to be alone.

Over 45.2 million passengers are expected to board planes operated by U.S. airlines during the 21-day holiday travel period, which runs from Friday, December 16, 2016, through Thursday, January 5, 2017, a 3.5% increase over last year, according to figures released by airline industry trade group Airlines for America.

Many millions more are expected to hit the roads to visit family and friends.

Airlines are increasing capacity by some 99,000 seats per day as well as adding new routes for the additional 1.5 million passengers, a 3.9% year-over-year increase from 2015.

The busiest travel days during the period will be December 22 and 23, while the lightest days will be December 24 and 25, as well as December 31 and January 1.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)