by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:25 AM ET, Thu February 22, 2018
American travelers are continuing to take to the skies in record numbers.
According to the annual Airlines for America report, 48 percent of travelers in the United States flew on an airline in 2017 and a total of 88 percent of survey respondents have taken a commercial flight in their lifetime.
In 2017, almost every age group and household income level reported taking more trips, especially the travelers earning $75,000-$99,999, who took an average of 5.1 trips in 2017, an increase from the average of 3.4 trips in 2016.
As for those who flew in 2017, 71 percent of all trips were taken for personal reasons, an increase from both 2016 and 2015. Travelers credit an improving economy and the increasing availability of affordable airfare options for the jump.
"Airlines continue to adapt to a highly price-sensitive American public by ensuring that passengers of all income levels can choose the services and price points that meet their individual needs, making air travel affordable and accessible to everyone," Airlines for America vice president John Heimlich said in a statement. "The strides airlines are making to improve the flight experience-from varying fares that can fit any budget, in-flight entertainment options, gourmet food offerings and advancements in technology, both on the ground and in the air- are resonating with customers and leading to more Americans traveling more often by air."
One aspect of air travel that didn't increase in 2017? Satisfaction. While 81 percent of travelers reported being satisfied with their overall air travel experience, the number was down from the 2016 percentage. One percent of respondents were very dissatisfied and four percent were somewhat dissatisfied.
For those enrolled in a Trusted Traveler Program like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, 86 percent reported satisfaction with their overall experience, including 49 percent who were very satisfied.
Competition between airlines has helped keep prices affordable, with 76 percent of people surveyed finding the airline industry to be as or more competitive than it was five years ago.
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