Airlines cram more fliers into fewer seats, flights

For the first time in recent aviation history, the financially troubled U.S. airline industry is shrinking domestic flying capacity in the face of strongly growing public demand for its service.

If the capacity reduction is the beginning of a long-term trend toward less domestic flying
For consumers, diminished capacity could mean higher average fares, fewer choices, fuller flights and fruitless searches for mileage upgrades and award travel. For communities, it could mean deteriorating or disappearing air service. For the airlines themselves, it could mean a fighting chance to regain profitability.

A USA TODAY analysis shows that the number of scheduled domestic airline seats this month will fall 5% below last year. It means that 3.9 million airline seats offered for sale last December aren’t there this year. That’s an average of 126,000 seats per day.

USA Today