American, Southwest encouraged by rising travel demand

A jump in travel demand in the second quarter led to increased revenue for American and Southwest airlines as the companies continue to chart a course to recovery. “As people are getting vaccinated, people are traveling. There’s enormous pent up demand,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told CNBC. “We’re seeing it obviously with leisure, but it’s beginning with business [travel].” Southwest CEO Gary Kelly also appeared on CNBC to speak to recovery in air travel. “People are anxious to get out and about and we want to be there to take them where they want to go.”