Airline Stocks Rally as Thanksgiving Travel Surge Offsets Shutdown Concerns
U.S. airline stocks climbed in early trading as carriers anticipate record Thanksgiving travel demand. United Airlines (UAL), American Airlines (AAL), and Delta Air Lines (DAL) led gains, buoyed by projections of 31 million passengers during the holiday period. The Transportation Security Administration expects 3.4 million travelers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving—the busiest day—followed by 3.1 million on Monday.
The rebound follows months of operational disruptions caused by the federal government shutdown, which grounded flights amid unpaid air traffic controllers. With the budget impasse resolved, airlines are scrambling to accommodate pent-up demand. Analysts note the surge could lift Q4 earnings above consensus estimates.