Airlines May Be Poised for a Rebound ... Will Prices Go Up?

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Bloomberg reports that in April, most U.S. airlines posted their smallest traffic declines in eight months, suggesting the industry may be on the cusp of a turnaround. Collectively, traffic fell 5.1 percent year-over-year in April, compared to declines of 11 percent in February and March. Southwest even posted a 4.1 percent increase in April.

While it may seem strange to celebrate a 5.1 percent decline, the fact is that any positive development is a big deal these days. More importantly, it shows that all the deep discounts we’ve seen over the last few months may have worked, at least enough to get some people flying again.

Of course, the downside to an industry comeback, from the customer’s perspective, would be the likely disappearance of all those low fares. Or as Rick Seaney puts it, “The bottom is near…. These great weekly sales may start to get fewer and farther apart.”

Readers, what do you think? Are we about to round a corner? Will cheap fares vanish by summer? Weigh in with a comment below.

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