Memorial Day Air Travel Surpasses Pre-COVID Levels Despite Inflation

Memorial Day air travel has exceeded pre-COVID pandemic levels, indicating that consumers are still willing to spend on trips despite ongoing inflation concerns.

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a total of 9.79 million people were screened from Friday through Monday, slightly surpassing the numbers from the 2019 holiday weekend. Notably, Friday set a post-pandemic record with over 2.7 million individuals screened.

For airlines, the beginning of the peak travel season is critical as it gauges travelers’ willingness to continue investing in vacations and other trips, even in the face of rising interest rates and soaring food and housing costs that strain household budgets.

Last year, adverse weather conditions combined with staffing shortages and other challenges resulted in a surge of flight disruptions during the peak period. However, airline executives express optimism about their carriers’ ability to operate reliably this summer.

Fortunately, favorable weather conditions contributed to a smooth travel experience over the weekend. According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking site, only 16% of flights arrived late from Friday through Monday, indicating a decrease in delays compared to last year’s holiday weekend.