Get All Access for $5/mo

'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.

Editor's Pick

Marketing

9 Key Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Link-Building Efforts

Here's a quick guide that will help you identify the scams and get the best value for your money.

Business News

Daniel Lubetzky Took Kind Snacks From Idea to $5 Billion. Here's His Best Advice For Anyone Who Wants to Start a Business.

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky tells aspiring business owners not to follow someone else's path to success — even his.

Business News

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon Isn't Worried About AI Taking Over Jobs — Here's Why

Dimon said AI was part of the next wave of tech innovation.

Growing a Business

How to Build Effective Collaborative Business Relationships — Your Step-by-Step Guide

Use this structured framework to form successful partnerships, manage risks and create lasting value for all stakeholders involved.

Marketing

Free Webinar | November 20: How to Avoid 3 Costly and Common Marketing Mistakes

Join our webinar on 11/20 with author and business coach Darcy Juarez to learn simple, budget-friendly marketing strategies that will attract clients and grow your business fast. Register now!

Business Plans

How to Master Your Strategic Planning As You Prepare Your Business for 2025

Here's how to best think about strategic planning, communication rhythms and maintaining alignment for consistent growth as you plan for next year.