US Airlines Keep Adding Seats They Can’t Get Anyone to Fill

A record 30 million people are expected to catch a flight over the Thanksgiving holiday, but airlines that specialize in low-cost US travel still don’t have much of a reason to celebrate.

Spirit Airlines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and other domestic-focused carriers are slashing their already low prices. After pandemic-related lockdowns ended, budget domestic airlines bolstered their supply of seats to accommodate a massive influx of travelers in 2022. But these days they’re often empty because passengers are gravitating toward more-expensive, internationally focused competitors.