DFW Airport is anticipating a record number of travelers will pass through its doors this summer.
The airport projects 19 million customers will fly through its gates this summer, a 4.4 percent increase from last year. And the airport prepared for more than 1.3 million people over Memorial Day weekend.
DFW Airport didn't say why it's expecting the rise in passenger travel this summer, but the combination of a strong economy and some added flights out of the airport are likely the cause.
Airlines for America, a trade group that represents the major U.S. airlines, said in March it was anticipating this spring would set a record for the most travelers taking to the skies. Much like the increase at DFW Airport, the trade group projected a 4 percent rise in traffic year-over-year.
"An expanding economy, employment gains and surging household net worth are also contributing to the growth in demand for air travel," said John Heimlich, A4A vice president and chief economist, in a prepared statement at the time.
At DFW Airport, airlines keep adding new routes. Three carriers — American Airlines Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL), Wow Air and Icelandair — will start flying non-stop flights to Iceland in the coming weeks.
The service to the growing tourist destination started off with bang when low-fare airline Wow Air offered flights starting at $99 per round-trip.
In addition to Iceland service, Fort Worth-based American Airlines also beefed up its Caribbean offering with a route to Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba serviced from DFW Airport. But that flight won't start until just before Christmas.
