Flying over Labor Day? Expect more company in the sky

If you’re traveling by plane over the upcoming Labor Day weekend, expect more fellow passengers. Airlines for America, an industry trade group, forecasts that 15.6 million people will fly between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6. That’s a four percent increase over last year, or 82,000 additional passengers per day.

Airlines for America, or A4A, says the increase in passengers can be attributed to falling airfares and expanded schedules.

A4A says fares dropped 5.2 percent in 2015, and have slipped another 6 percent so far this year.

“U.S. airlines are well positioned to meet the growing demand for air travel and are responding by increasing the number of seats available by 4 percent,” A4A’s vice president and chief economist John Heimlich said in a press release.

Many airlines, benefiting from lower fuel prices, have been reporting strong profits and are investing heavily in upgrading their fleets and products. A4A says 10 U.S. carriers -- Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United and Virgin America -- are adding 366 new aircraft this year.