AIR SERVICE
INDUSTRY UPDATES
U.S. carriers and the TSA entered June expecting another record summer travel season. Instead, TSA checkpoint volume declined year over year each month, with the gap widening as the summer progressed — the clearest indication yet that 2026's airfare increases are starting to price out some travel.
August recorded the season’s largest decline, with TSA checkpoint volume down 4.4% year over year. U.S. airports averaged approximately 2.58 million passengers per day this summer, compared with 2.66 million in 2025—a decline of roughly 73,000 passengers per day. Demand remained uneven, with corporate travel and premium cabins showing resilience while price-sensitive leisure and main-cabin travel softened as fares increased.
The single biggest swing factor so far in 2026 has been jet fuel. Disruptions related to the conflict with Iran drove crude oil and jet fuel prices sharply higher during the first half of the year, with elevated costs continuing to affect carriers throughout the summer.
Looking ahead, the U.S. airline industry faces five key challenges: air traffic control staffing, aircraft delivery delays, continued weakness in international inbound travel, higher operating costs, and airfare affordability.
PSP SERVICE UPDATES
PSP passenger volume was down 3.2% year over year through August, with 2,205,723 passengers compared with 2,277,714 during the same period in 2025. Canadian carrier deplanements totaled 100,077 through August, down 16.9% from 120,397 during the same period last year.
PSP seat capacity is expected to remain flat before returning to modest growth in early 2027. Capacity for the second half of 2026 is forecast to be flat year over year, while January through April 2027 capacity is projected to increase 1% compared with the same period in 2026, driven primarily by United and WestJet.
Twenty-two seasonal winter routes on eight airlines are scheduled for PSP. Bolded routes are earlier start dates versus 2025.
| Airline | Destination | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| American | Charlotte (CLT) | Feb. 13, 2026 – Apr. 3, 2027 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Oct. 5, 2026 – May 5, 2027 | |
| Air Canada | Vancouver (YVR) | Oct. 25, 2026 – Apr. 30, 2027 |
| Toronto (YYZ) | Oct. 25, 2026 – Apr. 30, 2027 | |
| Alaska | Boise (BOI | Nov. 20, 2026 – Apr. 22, 2027 |
| New York (JFK) | Nov. 1, 2026 – May 3, 2027 | |
| Paine Field (PAE) | Nov. 1, 2026 – Apr. 22, 2027 | |
| Santa Rosa (STS) | Sep. 10, 2026 – May 10, 2027 | |
| Delta | Atlanta (ATL) | Nov. 9, 2026 – May 5, 2027 |
| Austin (AUS) | Nov. 9, 2026 – May 29, 2027 | |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | Sep. 12, 2026 – May 5, 2027 | |
| Seattle (SEA) | Nov. 9, 2026 – May 5, 2027 | |
| Sun Country | Minneapolis (MSP) | Sep. 17, 2026 – Apr. 12, 2027 |
| United | Newark (EWR) | Dec. 17, 2026 – Apr. 28, 2027 |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Dec. 3, 2026 – Apr. 26, 2027 | |
| Houston (IAH) | Sep. 24, 2026 - TBD | |
| Chicago (ORD) | Sep. 24, 2026 – May 26, 2027 | |
| Southwest | Austin (AUS) | Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Chicago Midway (MDW) | Feb. 13 – Apr. 3, 2027 | |
| San Jose (SJC) | Oct. 1, 2026 - TBD | |
| WestJet | Edmonton (YEG) | Oct. 3, 2026 – Apr. 24, 2027 |
| Winnipeg (YWG) | Oct. 27, 2026 – Apr. 23, 2027 |
Below is the latest data for PSP. Click here or the image below to view the multiple-page PDF report.
For more information on Air Service development, click here.
If you have any questions about air service, please contact:
Gary Orfield, Director of Tourism Development
gary@visitgreaterps.com | 760.969.1335
