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'Blended travel' boosting airline revenue

American Airlines says blended travel, a mix of business and leisure trips, is now responsible for nearly half its revenue. 

American’s Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja called it the "great merging, saying people don’t need to carve out five days for work and two days off." 

While speaking at Skift Global, a travel industry forum, he used Bozeman, Montana, as an example. That area has seen an influx of wealthy newcomers. Passenger numbers jumped more than 40% the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2019. Nationally, passenger counts remain 9% lower. 

Skift reported every airline serving Bozeman has expanded since pre-COVID-19, and Southwest Airlines went from not flying to being its third-largest carrier in terms of seats.

As a senior field correspondent, Christina Estes focuses on stories that impact our economy, your wallet and public policy.