Have you ever wondered what the future of air travel will look like?

In a recent study, the DOT analyzed the current state of the industry and how that will affect travel beyond 2045.

The bottom line? If we don’t change things soon, every day at the airports will be as crowded and congested as Thanksgiving.

For starters, our basic infrastructure—as in roads, bridges, railways—is falling apart. It’s nowhere near where it needs to be to support current growth trends.

The number of people flying on U.S. airlines is expected to go up by about 50 percent in the next two years. International air travel will more than double, and international freight is also increasing.

Meanwhile, airline mergers and hub consolidations are contributing to air traffic congestion.

One piece of good news? The FAA is working on a program called NextGen to modernize air traffic control, making the system more efficient and regulated.

It’s not the only solution, but at least in this arena, we are moving in the right direction.

For more information, visit the Airlines and Airports archives.

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