US airlines expect to ferry a record number of passengers over the holidays after a year in which economic uncertainty and a government shutdown have whipsawed travel demand. A daily average of 2.9 million passengers will travel between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5, 1.5% more than a year ago, the Airlines for America lobby group said in a statement. Domestic airfares over the period will average $900 for a round trip, or 7% more than in 2024, the American Automobile Association said in a separate statement. New York and New Jersey airports are expecting a record 5.7 million travelers from Dec. 22 to Jan. 4, a 1% increase from last year’s numbers, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.. Bloomberg Intelligence's George Ferguson joins to give his holiday outlook. (Source: Bloomberg)