'This Is Shaping Up to Be a Record-Setting Year': Airlines Are Bracing for the Busiest Holiday Travel Season Ever Airlines and airports expect to see 10% more flyers than last year.

By Sam Silverman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Airlines and airports are adding more muscle to prepare for what they expect to be the busiest holiday travel season, ever.

This year, officials expect to see 30 million passengers between November 17-27, which is up by 10% from last year.

"This is shaping up to be a record-setting year," said Airlines for America CEO Nick Calio, told Good Morning America.

RELATED: Airline Industry Executives Warn of Prolonged Air Travel Disruptions—For At Least Another 5 Years

Airlines are preparing for the influx of passengers by adding tens of thousands of new employees. Some airports have even been holding hiring fairs as they staff up to meet increasing demands.

American Airlines has expanded schedules and larger planes. United Airlines added over 500,000 seats for the season, according to the outlet.

"We're going to carry more customers than we ever have before, about half a million more than last year," American Airlines COO, David Seymour, told ABC News.

The anticipated holiday travel rush comes after last year's Christmas fiasco that was plagued with more than 7,400 flight delays, according to The New York Times.

RELATED: Southwest Airlines Develops Software Fix to Prevent Future Travel Meltdowns

However, this year is already off to a better start, with only a 1.7% cancellation rate in the first eight months compared to 2022's cancellation rate of 3%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report for August.

Despite the decrease in cancellations, the Department of Transportation received 24,965 complaints during the first quarter of 2023, up 88.4% from last year's 13,252 complaints for Q1, according to the department's 1st Quarter 2023 Airline Complaint Data.

As for what flyers can do to prepare for the unexpected travel hiccup, Seymour recommends customers arrive for their flights early and download the airline's app for status updates — but some things are out of our hands.

"My No. 1 recommendation to people would be [to] pray for good weather," he said on GMA. "That is always the key."

Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Here's What 8 CEOs Made in 2024, From JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon to Disney's Bob Iger

CEO pay is on the rise, with some making tens of millions more in 2024 than they did in 2023.

Marketing

This SEO Secret Weapon Is Just $69 for Life

Affordable, actionable search engine optimization insights for businesses of all sizes.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Business News

Fans of Costco's $1.50 Hot Dog Combo Are In for a Big Surprise

Costco CEO Ron Vachris announced a change that's coming soon to the company's food courts.

Money & Finance

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Day Trading

Here is some practical advice for aspiring day traders, covering market timing, essential skills and risk-free learning.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.