Expect longer lines at airports this summer as Americans take advantage of the booming economy and cheaper airfare despite higher gas prices.
A record 236 million people are expected to fly between June 1 and August 31, up nearly 4 percent from last summer.
“People are enjoying higher housing values, higher stock values, maybe some wage increases and benefits from tax reform and high gas prices aren't enough to eat into that,” says John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist for the industry trade group Airlines for America.
“We have an all-time high household net worth in this country. We have an accelerating GDP, we have steady job growth and you combine that with affordability.”
Airfare is down 12 percent from three years ago.
“At least for the summer, the higher jet fuel prices are not reflected in fairs, so in many cases it may be cheaper to fly than to drive,” says Heimlich.