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Washington-based trade group Airlines for America recently announced that they expected that about 222 million passengers will fly on U.S. airlines from June through August, up 4.5 percent from the same time last year. Citing strong U.S. domestic demand, they expect this summer to be particularly profitable for three airlines that serve Key West, Florida: American Airlines, United Continental, and Delta Air Lines."The continued rise in U.S. consumer sentiment and employment is leading to more people traveling more often," Airlines for America Chief Economist John Heimlich said in a statement. To make sure there will be enough supply for this demand, airlines are working to increase the available seating by 4.6 percent.
A healthier economy and lower fuel prices are helping spur this traveling boom, but so is a higher level of satisfaction in the airlines performances. Two recent surveys both show an increase in customer satisfaction. J.D. Powers reported a score of 717 on their index, up five points from last year, while passengers reported to the American Customer Service Index they felt the highest level of satisfaction in 20 years.
Key West has a benefit other tropical island vacation destinations do not have and that is a variety of airports to choose from. Being able to drive down the Overseas Highway means people can find the best airfare deals that include Miami and Fort Lauderdale as well as Key West International Airport, which makes the island an even more attractive summer destination vacation choice.
“The drive is considered one of the ten most beautiful in the country, and the highway is one the seven wonders of the modern world, so many people look for any reason to drive it,” said Norman Vogel, owner of the iconic Key West restaurant, the Roof Top Café. “At the same time, because they do not need passports, have to deal with customs and rarely have to change planes more than once, flying directly into Key West allows people to make a quick tropical long weekend getaway.”
Another factor tourists are taking into consideration is the less than average storm season weather experts are predicting for the Caribbean. The Weather Channel predicts a total of nine named storms, down from the 30-year average of 12, and Colorado State University, using a combination of 29 years of statistical predicators, is forecasting only seven named storms to affect the tropical vacation destinations.
“Both the dynamical models and our proprietary statistical models suggest a relatively quiet tropical season this year,” said Meteorologist Dr. Todd Crawford of The Weather Channel Professional Division. That prediction is matched by the number of wedding events that Key West restaurants find themselves scheduled with this year.
“Already we have more weekends sold out than we had all of last summer,” Vogel said, predicting that by the end of the summer they will have participated in almost 500 destination weddings. “The days of a long slow summer definitely seem to be in our past.”
**Jack Terry is a freelance writer who focuses on the travel, lifestyle and food and beverage industries and spent several years as a consultant working in the Florida Keys.
Contact Info:
Name: Jack Terry
Email: Send Email
Organization: Team Wildflower
Website: http://www.rooftopcafekeywest.com/
Release ID: 82523
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