One of Peter Philipp Wingsoe's employees at a Los Angeles marketing firm recently waited five days for a business-class ticket on a United Airlines jet home from Beijing because flights were so packed.
Those crowds are spurring United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and other U.S. carriers to expand flights to Asia, lured by economic growth in China that's triple the U.S. rate and new access to Haneda airport adjacent to downtown Tokyo.
"It's been quite difficult, particularly getting last-minute flights," said Wingsoe, 38, who makes about a half-dozen trips to Asia each year as managing partner at Entertainment Fusion Group. "There's nothing open. Last year we could call the day of travel and get on, no problem."