Not a sign of a healthy economy just yet!
Nearly all of the nation’s largest air carriers are pulling advance-purchase rules for holiday travel, dropping some ticket prices by as much as 79%, Bestfares.com reported Thursday.
In an unexpected move that underscores how much trouble airlines are having attracting cash-starved business and leisure consumers, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways, Frontier Airlines, AirTran Airways and Midwest Airlines are waiving their holiday advance-purchase requirements.
The steps also come as the Air Transport Association said a "fragile economy" is responsible for 2.5% fewer passengers boarding planes this holiday, or 41 million compared with last year’s 42 million.
"We are continuing to see fewer air travelers over the holidays, a trend that has been apparent throughout 2009," said ATA Chief Executive James May.
