U.S. Aviation System Experiences Record Passenger Numbers

Why it matters locally: West Virginians traveling by air may experience increased wait times and fuller flights, particularly for connections through larger hubs, due to the national trend of record passenger numbers and fewer overall flights.

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.