U.S. Aviation System Experiences Record Passenger Numbers

Why it matters locally: Maryland's Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is expected to experience increased passenger volume and potential operational strain due to the national trend of record passenger numbers combined with a reduced number of overall flights.

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U.S. airports and airlines are observing a record-setting summer travel period. Airlines are accommodating the largest volume of passengers in their history. This occurs while the total number of flights operated by these same airlines has decreased compared to levels seen two decades ago. This combination of increased passenger traffic and a reduced number of flights places increased demands on the U.S. aviation system.