Airlines expect record number of summer travelers

A record 246.1 million passengers are expected to travel on U.S. airlines this summer, according to an industry group.

Lobbying group Airlines for America said that's the number of passengers expected on U.S. airline flights from June through August, up 3.7 percent from last year.

The volume of traffic expected amounts to an average of 2.68 million passengers per day.

A growing economy, strong growth in employment and increased household net worth is contributing to strong demand for air travel, according to Airlines for America chief economist John Heimlich.

“Europe is the hot market this summer,” Heimlich said. “We see a dip in Asia and Caribbean, not unexpected given hurricane devastation from the fall.”

He said Thursdays and Fridays during the summer make up most of the top 25 busiest days of the year.