About 2.7 million fewer passengers will travel with major US airlines this summer due partly to high fuel prices, a weakening economy and capacity cuts, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) said on Tuesday.

The ATA forecast that 211.5 million passengers will fly between June 1 and August 31, down 2.7 million, or more than 1 percent, from the 214.2 million who traveled during the same months of 2007.

"For a variety of reasons, slightly fewer people will fly this summer and planes will be approaching 85 percent full," ATA Chief Executive James May said. "While New York remains a choke point, airlines, airports and government are doing all they can to avoid lengthy delays."

The ATA is the trade organization for major US airlines. ATA members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of US airline passenger and cargo traffic.

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