UNITED STATES – A record number of Americans were expected to fly this Thanksgiving, but the 43-day U.S. government shutdown put a dent in one of the year’s busiest travel seasons.
American Automobile Association had projected 6 million domestic fliers, up 2% from last year, but bookings started falling after the shutdown passed the one-month mark.
The sharpest drop came when the Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight cuts at 40 major airports.
By November 24, bookings for the five-day holiday period were down 4.5% from a year ago after starting the month up 1.5% according to aviation firm Cirium.
Some airlines still expect strong numbers, banking on last-minute travelers as confidence returns after the shutdown.
