A record 234.1m passengers are expected to fly on US-based carriers this summer, apparently not dissuaded by a series of customer-relations blowups in recent weeks. Airlines for America, which represents the airline industry, attributes the projected 4% increase in summer travel to improving economic conditions, higher household net worth and lower airfares. To accommodate the increase of about 100,000 more fliers a day, airlines plan to add 123,000 extra seats a day, according to the trade group. John Heimlich, chief economist for the airline trade group, said the organization has spoken to various airlines to gauge whether Donald Trump’s election as president or recent passenger incidents have had any effect on bookings.<br/>
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Canada suggested Thursday it could scrap plans to buy Boeing fighter jets if the United States backed Boeing's claims that Canadian plane maker Bombardier Inc dumped jetliners in the US market. "Canada is reviewing current military procurement that relates to Boeing," Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said late Thursday. Canada "strongly disagrees" with the US Commerce Department decision to investigate Boeing's claims that Bombardier sold planes below cost in the United States and benefited unfairly from Canadian government subsidies, the statement added. The remarks came after the US Commerce Department launched an investigation into Boeing's claims, and pointed to the potential for rising trade tension between the two countries. Boeing and Canada are in talks over the purchase of 18 Boeing Super Hornet fighters this year or in early 2018. President Donald Trump has called for a strong stronger stance on trade with his "America First" policy that got a boost on Thursday when Commerce formally announced its intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.<br/>