WASHINGTON — Just ahead of what airlines say could be the busiest Memorial Day weekend for travel since before COVID-19, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is sharing how his department is prepping for the potentially record-breaking season.
"We know for sure that there is going to be a very high level of demand, a lot of traffic and a lot of pressure on the system," Buttigieg said in an interview with ABC News.
Major U.S. airlines are touting their expected passenger numbers and schedules ahead of the holiday weekend. United Airlines said it's preparing for its busiest Memorial Day in more than a decade, expecting to carry nearly 2.9 million passengers. When asked if he thinks airlines can meet the high demand, Buttigieg said his department has been"pressing" the companies to be more realistic with scheduling and actively supporting those efforts in order to avoid more headline-grabbing meltdowns.
After increased delays and cancellations among U.S. carriers last summer, Buttigieg called such disruptions"unacceptable." The Biden administration recently announced it would seek to require airlines to provide consumers with boosted compensation, including meals and hotels, if they are left stranded and it's the airline's fault.
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