WASHINGTON, May 13, 2008 – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, joined by Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), today released its summer forecast and steps that passengers can take to help ensure a more enjoyable travel experience.

ATA forecasts that slightly fewer passengers* will travel June 1 through August 31 compared to the same period last year. Approximately 211.5 million passengers are expected to fly this summer, down approximately 1 percent from the 214.2 million passengers who traveled during the summer months of 2007.

“For a variety of reasons, slightly fewer people will fly this summer and planes will be approaching 85 percent full,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “While New York remains a chokepoint, airlines, airports and government are doing all they can to avoid lengthy delays when possible and to provide a pleasant travel experience for all.”

“We know that summer travel can be stressful for passengers and airports are well organized to handle unexpected schedule changes or delays,” said Greg Principato, ACI-NA president. “We will work closely with the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration to ensure safe and smooth operations for travelers. In the case of delays, airports will help to provide a full range of business and leisure services to meet passenger needs.”

Record-high jet fuel prices, a weakening economy and airline capacity cuts are the main reasons for the reduction in the number of passengers; still airplanes will be flying with relatively full loads. And, with the cost of jet fuel approaching $170 per barrel, airlines will be taking every conceivable step to minimize delays and improve operational efficiencies.

“Unfortunately, uncontrollable factors such as bad weather can disrupt the best airline efforts,” said May. “To help ensure smooth flying, we encourage passengers to check their flight status and check in online before leaving home, allowing for plenty of time at the airport for security and check-in processing. Working together we are doing our best to make this summer travel season better than last.”

With hundreds of millions of passengers expected to fly during the busy summer season, ATA recommends the following travel tips:

• 24 hours or less prior to departure, visit the carrier’s Web site and print out boarding passes (if possible); check flight status and determine what type of meal service will be offered; be aware of carrier carry-on and checked-baggage policies, and plan accordingly
• Place amenities in carry-on bag, including prescriptions or other medicines and snacks (and for those traveling with children, baby food/diapers) in case of delay
• If carrying liquids or gels in a carry-on bag, pack them in a one-quart zip-top bag and place them in a readily accessible location. Familiarize yourself with the list of TSA permitted and prohibited items
• Remove extraneous metal objects (e.g., coins, keys, pens, cell phone, watch, camera) and place them in carry-on baggage
• Have your government-issued identification and boarding pass ready at the security-screening checkpoint
• Consider purchasing bottled water or other liquids after the security checkpoint
• Tag each bag, inside and out, with traveler name and contact information, and remove all destination baggage tags from previous trips

*The total number of revenue passengers boarding aircraft in scheduled service.

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the industry, visit www.airlines.org.

Airports Council International-North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Over 300 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the six worldwide regions of Airports Council International.