Slow Economy Incites Airlines to Offer Sales.

Byline: Cynthia Wilson

May 5--Have the economic slowdown, rising fuel prices and a volatile stock market got you thinking twice about booking airline tickets for summer travel?

Well, flying may be cheaper than you think.

Summer is typically the season when the airline industry experiences the greatest demand and can charge higher fares. But the slowing economy, cutbacks in corporate travel budgets, concerns about service disruptions at some of the major carriers and falling 401(k) portfolios have resulted in a slowdown in bookings.

"People will be more cautious and flexible in where they go," said Tom Parsons, publisher of Bestfares.com, an …