Thanksgiving air travel forecast: full flights

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Airline industry officials are forecasting full flights for Thanksgiving despite an expected 2 percent drop in passengers.

Air Transport Association officials said today they expect 37,000 fewer passengers per day over the holiday period compared to last year.

But they also say U.S. carriers have reduced capacity to match demand and offset higher costs. That means few empty seats.

The association expects about 23.2 million air travelers will fly on U.S. carriers' domestic and international routes during a 12-day period surrounding the holiday, down from the 23.6 million people who flew over the Thanksgiving period in 2010.

The busiest air-travel days for the period are expected to be Sunday, Nov. 27 and Monday, Nov. 28, followed by Friday, Nov. 18.