Thanksgiving Air Travel Bookings Fall as Airfares Rise 31%

Rising airfares are prompting many Americans to reconsider their Thanksgiving travel plans, with flight bookings for the holiday period declining compared with last year.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, average Thanksgiving airfares in August were 31% higher than during the same period last year. Bookings for the holiday season fell 1.6%, CBS News reported Tuesday.

Several destinations recorded sharper declines. Bookings to Newark dropped 24.6%, followed by Seattle at 15.3%, San Francisco at 11.7%, Miami at 13.2%, Dallas at 12.6% and Denver at 11.6%.

Airlines are facing higher operating costs as jet fuel prices rise amid conflict involving Iran. Carriers have responded by increasing fares, introducing additional fees and reducing flights on some routes.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has said operating aircraft has become increasingly expensive. Higher wages for pilots and other airline employees, alongside rising fuel costs, are adding to the financial pressure on carriers.

Airlines expect fares to remain elevated for some time, even if tensions in the Middle East ease, as fuel costs remain above last year’s levels.

Thanksgiving will be observed on November 26 this year in the United States.