US airlines expect to carry a record number of international travelers between June and August, topping last summer’s record of 25.8 million international passengers, according to the Air Transport Association.

The association represents major US carriers including American Airlines and Delta. In total, US airlines expect to transport 206.2 million passengers for the summer period, up nearly 3 million from 2010.

The industry is showing signs of life despite the lingering effects of the global recession and the uncertainty surrounding fuel prices.

The association’s chief economist, John Heimlich, noted that business and leisure travel has so far held up much better than airlines expected heading into this year.

Source: Bloomberg