The trend: Travel bookings for the holiday season are trending up, according to United Airlines and Delta Air Lines—with the exception of some softness around the presidential election in November, as uncertainty drives some consumers to hold off on discretionary spending.
- Delta is seeing “healthy bookings for the holiday” and momentum all the way into January, minus a pronounced decline in the week leading up to and following the election.
- Despite some “noise in Q4” due to calendar shifts, United noted that “the environment is improving rapidly” thanks to growing demand for overseas and corporate travel.