The summer travel season is setting records again. Airlines are carrying more passengers than ever while operating fewer flights than they did 20 years ago, pushing the limits of the aviation system.
AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly this holiday, while roughly 85% of travelers will take road trips.
Around 72 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the holiday weekend, including 61 million drivers and 6 million air travelers, making it one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
On a busy day, Delta Air Lines handles more than 100,000 bags at its Atlanta hub. NPR got a rare look behind the scenes at how the airline is using AI to improve baggage-handling operations.
Industry leaders say this spring could bring record-breaking air traffic, with an estimated 171 million passengers.