June 2008 Airline Traffic Data: Six-Month 2008 System Traffic Down 0.4 Percent from 2007 and Down 2.7 Percent in June
Thursday, September 11, 2008 - The number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines during the first six months of 2008 declined by 0.4 percent from the same period in 2007, dropping to 378.2 million, 1.5 million less than a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported in a release of preliminary data (Table 1). BTS, a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that U.S. airlines carried 1.1 percent fewer domestic passengers and 5.1 percent more international passengers during the first six months of 2008 than during the same period in 2007 (Tables 7, 13). In June, the most recent data month, U.S. airlines carried 67.8 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 2.7 percent less than in June 2007, the fourth consecutive monthly decline from the same month of the previous year (Table 2). The number of domestic passengers decreased 3.3 percent in June from a year earlier and international passengers increased 2.4 percent (Tables 7, 13). U.S. airlines carried 2.3 percent fewer scheduled domestic and international passengers in the second quarter than in the April-June period a year ago. The number of domestic passengers decreased 3.0 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier and international passengers increased 3.4 percent (Tables 2, 7, 13). The combined domestic and international system load factor of 79.3 percent for January through June was down 0.4 load factor points from last year's record for the six-month period (Table 1). Load factor measures the use of the airlines' passenger capacity. Top AirlinesSouthwest Airlines carried more total system and more domestic passengers for the first six months than any other U.S. airline (Tables 3 and 9). American Airlines carried more international passengers than any other U.S. carrier (Table 15). America West Airlines and US Airways now operate under a single certificate and report jointly as US Airways. Numbers reported as US Airways in this release for previous years do not include America West's numbers. See the notes for system, domestic and international airline ranking tables 3, 4, 9, 10, 15 and 16 for America West's 2007 passenger numbers. Top AirportsMore total system and domestic passengers boarded planes in the first six months at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport (Tables 5 and 11); and more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport (Table 17). Flights OperatedU.S. carriers operated 5.2 million domestic and international flights in the first six months of 2008, 1.7 percent fewer than were operated during the same period in 2007 (Table 1). Domestic flights decreased 1.9 percent from the previous year while international flights were up 1.4 percent (Tables 7, 13). In June, U.S. airlines operated 885,800 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 2.0 percent from the number of flights operated in June 2007 (Table 1). The number of domestic flights decreased 2.2 percent in June from a year earlier while international flights were up 0.1 percent (Tables 7, 13). System (Domestic + International) Comparisons (Tables 1-6)In other total system comparisons from the first six months of 2007 to the first six months of 2008 and from June 2007 to June 2008 (Table 1): Revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 1.5 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, RPMs were down 0.9 percent. Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 1.9 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, ASMs were up 1.2 percent. Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.4 load factor points at 79.3 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, load factor decreased 1.8 load factor points to 83.9 percent. Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.9 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, flight stage length was up 2.2 percent. Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.9 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, passenger trip length was up 1.8 percent. Among U.S. airlines, Southwest carried 52.3 million passengers on its system in the first six months of 2008, the most of any airline (Table 3). In June, Southwest carried 9.5 million passengers on its system, the most of any airline (Table 4). Among airports, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport in the first six months of 2008, with 21.2 million domestic and international passenger boardings (Table 5). In June, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport with 3.9 million domestic and international passenger boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6). Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)U.S. airlines carried 331.4 million scheduled domestic passengers during the first six months of 2008, down 1.1 percent from the 335.2 million carried during the same period in 2007 (Table 7). The passengers were carried on 4.7 million flights, down 1.9 percent from the number of flights operated in 2007 (Table 7). In the most recent data month, June, the airlines carried 59.4 million scheduled domestic passengers, down 3.3 percent from the number of passengers carried during June 2007 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 811,500 flights, down 2.2 percent from the 829,400 flights operated in June 2007 (Table 7). In other domestic comparisons from the first six months of 2007 to the first six months of 2008 and from June 2007 to June 2008 (Table 7): Domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were down 0.5 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, domestic RPMs were down 2.9 percent. Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were down 0.1 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, domestic ASMs were down 0.6 percent. Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.3 load factor points at 79.6 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, domestic load factor was down 2.0 load factor points at 84.3 percent. Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 1.9 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, domestic flight stage length was up 1.3 percent. Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 0.7 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, domestic passenger trip length was also up 0.4 percent. Southwest carried 52.3 million domestic passengers in the first six months of 2008, the most of any airline (Table 9). In June, Southwest carried 9.5 million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10). Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport in the first six months of 2008, with 19.1 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 11). In June, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport with 3.5 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 12). International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)U.S. airlines carried 46.8 million scheduled international passengers during the first six months of 2008, up 5.1 percent from the 44.5 million carried during the same period in 2007 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on 436,700 flights, up 1.4 percent from the 430,600 flights operated in 2007 (Table 13). In the most recent data month, June, the airlines carried 8.4 million scheduled international passengers, up 2.4 percent from the number of passengers carried during June 2007. The passengers were carried on 74,400 flights, up 0.1 percent from the 74,300 flights operated in June 2007 (Table 13). In other international comparisons from the first six months of 2007 to the first six months of 2008 and from June 2007 to June 2008 (Table 13): International revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 6.4 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, international RPMs were up 4.0 percent. International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 6.9 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, international ASMs were up 5.6 percent. International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.4 load factor points to 78.8 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, international load factor was down 1.3 load factor points to 83.0 percent. International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 4.7 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, international flight stage length was up 4.4 percent. International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.2 percent in the first six months of 2008. In June, international passenger trip length was up 1.5 percent. American carried 10.7 million international passengers in the first six months of 2008, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 15). In June, American carried 1.9 million international passengers, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 16). Miami International was the busiest U.S. airport for international travel on U.S. carriers in the first six months of 2008, with 2.5 million international passenger boardings (Table 17). In June, Miami was the busiest international airport with 454,400 international passenger boardings on U.S. carriers (Table 18). Reporting NotesData are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial U.S. air carriers detailing operations, passenger traffic and freight traffic. This release includes data received by BTS from 88 carriers as of Sept. 3 for U.S. carrier scheduled civilian operations. Go to http://www.transtats.bts.gov/releaseinfo.asp for the complete list of reporting and non-reporting carriers. U.S. carriers' foreign point-to-point flights are included in system and international totals. To create a customized table for passengers, flights, RPMs, ASMs and other data, including non-scheduled service, go to http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/air_carrier_traffic_statistics/. Additional traffic numbers are available on the BTS website at TranStats, the Intermodal Transportation Database, at http://transtats.bts.gov. Click on "Aviation." For system passengers, RPMs and ASMs by carrier through June, click on "Air Carrier Summary Data (Form 41 and 298C Summary Data)," and then click on "Schedule T-1." Use crosstabs to find scheduled service. For domestic numbers through June and international numbers through March by origin as well as by carrier, after clicking on "Aviation," click on "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)." Click on "T-100 Market" for system passenger numbers, "T-100 Domestic Market" for domestic or "T-100 International Market" for international. For flights, stage length and trip length, use the appropriate T-100 Segment database. Use crosstabs to find scheduled service. TranStats system and international totals do not include U.S. carriers' foreign point-to-point flights. For June, U.S. carriers reported 227,011 foreign point-to-point passengers. For January through June, U.S. carriers reported 1,420,279 foreign point-to-point passengers. Data are subject to revision. BTS has scheduled Oct. 17 for the release of July traffic data. Table 1: Scheduled System (Domestic and International) Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market and Segment *Change in load factor points **The average non-stop distance flown per departure in miles *** The average distance flown per passenger in miles Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 2: Total System (Domestic and International) Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. CarriersPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 3: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by January- June 2008 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international ** US Airways Jan-June 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The Jan-June 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 10.558 million system passengers in Jan-June 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 4: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by June 2008 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international ** US Airways June 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The June 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 1.881million system passengers in June 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 5: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January- June 2008 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 6: Top 10 U.S. Airports ranked by June 2008 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 7: Domestic Scheduled Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market and Segment *Change in load factor points **The average non-stop distance flown per departure in miles *** The average distance flown per passenger in miles Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 8: Domestic Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. CarriersPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 9: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by January- June 2008 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market * US Airways Jan-June 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The Jan-June 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 9.848 million domestic passengers in Jan-June 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 10: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by June 2008 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market * US Airways June 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The June 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 1.777 million domestic passengers in June 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 11: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January- June 2008 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 12: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by June 2008 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 13: International Scheduled Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market and Segment *Change in load factor points **The average non-stop distance flown per departure in miles *** The average distance flown per passenger in miles Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 14: International Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. CarriersPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 15: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by January- June 2008 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market * US Airways Jan-June 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The Jan-June 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 710.1 thousand international passengers in Jan-June 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Note: Alaska Airlines requested confidentiality for its June traffic data. Alaska’s numbers are included in summary numbers in this press release but not in individual airline ranking tables. Table 16: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by June 2008 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market * US Airways June 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The June 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 103.3 thousand international passengers in June 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Note: Alaska Airlines requested confidentiality for its June traffic data. Alaska’s numbers are included in summary numbers in this press release but not in individual airline ranking tables. Table 17: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January- June 2008 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 18: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by June 2008 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Find this web page at:
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