Sep 8, 2020 - Economy

Labor Day weekend sees uptick in airline travel

Jacob Knutson

Passengers in the Las Vegas International Airport on Aug. 29. Photo: Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

More than 3 million people passed through U.S. airports over Labor Day weekend, with nearly 969,000 passengers boarding flights on Sept. 4 and another 935,000 on Sept. 7, the Transportation Security Administration announced.

Why it matters: Those dates saw the most individuals screened on any single day since the coronavirus pandemic arrived in the U.S. in mid-March — suggesting that Americans may be warming up to air travel.

What they're saying: “Passenger volume on the busiest day of the Labor Day weekend was up 30% from the busiest day of the July Fourth holiday weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said.

“This is an encouraging trend for the aviation sector as airports, airlines and TSA work together to ensure a secure and safe travel experience for passengers.”

The big picture: The increase in travel was a welcome sight for airlines, which have been hit hard from the dip in demand during the pandemic.

Multiple airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines, have announced intentions to cut thousands of jobs in October.

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Labor Day weekend sees uptick in airline travel

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