No, it's because the airlines have been flying at, or near, capacity for quite awhile now.

It's only "news" because news directors are accustomed to sending some schmo to the airport every Wednesday and Sunday to report on the "huge" crowds. Never mind the reports they themselves have done for the past million years about these "crowds."

There are some exceptions, such as this being DEN's first Thanksgiving with WN in the house, but that's a far minority instance of things. Even the newsies didn't have anything of significance to report.

Of course, Pattie Ahlstrom will pat himself on the back because he made the PR tours with all the media outlets.