As Washington, D.C.-based Airlines for America expects air travel this spring to rise to the highest level since 2007, the U.S. Travel Association is concerned air travel infrastructure is unable to cater to increased capacity.

A4A expects 134.8 million passengers will fly in March and April this year, representing a 2 percent increase over last year, when 132 million passengers traveled during the same period. Passenger volumes are expected to fall just below the 2007 peak, when 136.1 million passengers flew during March and April.

The trade group for the nation’s carriers credits the increase in spring air travel to rising U.S. employment and personal incomes, an improving economy, the highest consumer sentiment in a decade and the continued affordability of air travel. “To meet the extra demand, airlines are adding seats to the marketplace, in part by deploying new and larger aircraft on many routes,” said John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist, A4A.

According to U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow, while the group welcomes increased travel demand, it is calling for airlines, especially the Big Three (American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines) to invest more of their profits in infrastructure upgrades to make air travel more enjoyable and create greater competition.

“Every piece of evidence we have shows that our infrastructure is already straining under the current load, and that passengers are frustrated beyond words by overcrowded flights and delays in the terminal and on the tarmac,” said Dow. “Where are the Big Three’s solutions?”

As American, United and Delta argue Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways are unfairly competing with help from government subsidies and U.S. airlines are urging the U.S. government to restrict new service to the United States from budget carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle, Dow said the U.S. Travel Association is “alarmed that the Big Three seem determined to stamp out competition and cling to the status quo, which fundamentally harms the consumer, particularly as demand grows.”

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