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February 2008 Airline Traffic Data: Two-Month 2008 System Traffic Up 1.8 Percent From 2007

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Contact BTS 22-08 Dave Smallen 202-366-5568

Thursday, May 15, 2008 - The number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines during the first two months of 2008 grew by 1.8 percent from the same period in 2007, reaching 113.2 million, 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 in February, the most recent data month, U.S. airlines carried 55.5 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 2.7 percent more than in February 2007 (Table 2).  The number of domestic passengers increased 1.9 percent in February from a year earlier and international passengers increased 8.2 percent (Tables 7, 13).   The following airlines have not reported passenger data for February 2008, which may impact the estimated growth rate from 2007 to 2008:  ATA Airlines, Shuttle America , Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Tradewind Aviation.

During the first two months, U.S. airlines carried 2.0 million more total system passengers than during the first two months of 2007.  The combined domestic and international system load factor of 74.5 percent from January through February was a record for the two-month period (Table 1).  Load factor measures the use of the airlines’ passenger capacity. 

U.S. airlines carried 1.2 percent more domestic passengers and 6.5 percent more international passengers during the first two months of 2008 than during the same period in 2007 (Tables 7, 13). 

Top Airlines

Southwest Airlines carried more total system and more domestic passengers for the first two months than any other U.S. airline (Tables 3 and 9).  American Airlines carried more international passengers than any U.S. carrier (Table 15).

America West Airlines and US Airways are now operating under a single certificate and are reporting 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 2008 and 2007 passenger numbers previously reported for America West.

Top Airports

More total system and domestic passengers boarded planes in the first two 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 Operated

U.S. carriers operated 1.6 million domestic and international flights in the first two months of 2008, 1.5 percent fewer than were operated during the same period in 2007 (Table 1).  Domestic flights decreased 1.7 percent from the previous year while international flights were up 1.7 percent (Tables 7, 13).

In February, U.S. airlines operated 777,600 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 1.5 percent from the number of flights operated in February 2007 (Table 1). The number of domestic flights decreased 1.8 percent in February from a year earlier while international flights increased 2.4 percent (Tables 7, 13).

System Comparisons (Tables 1-6)

In other total system comparisons from the first two months of 2007 to the first two months of 2008 and from February 2007 to February 2008 (Table 1):

Revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 3.6 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, RPMs were up 4.7 percent.

Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 3.2 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, ASMs were up 4.7 percent.

Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 0.3 percentage points to 74.5 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, load factor was unchanged at 75.1 percent.

Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 3.7 percent in the first two months of 2008. In February, flight stage length was up 4.5 percent.

Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.8 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, passenger trip length was up 2.0 percent.

Among U.S. airlines, Southwest carried 15.4 million passengers on its system in the first two months of 2008, the most of any airline (Table 3). In February, Southwest carried 7.7 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 two months of 2008, with 6.3 million domestic and international passenger boardings (Table 5).  In February, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport with 3.1 million domestic and international passenger boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6). 

Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)

U.S. airlines carried 98.9 million scheduled domestic passengers during the first two months of 2008, up 1.2 percent from the 97.8 million carried during the same period in 2007 (Table 7). The passengers were carried on 1.5 million flights, down 1.7 percent from the number of flights operated in 2007 (Table 7).

In the most recent data month, February, the airlines carried 48.7 million scheduled domestic passengers, up 1.9 percent from the passengers carried during February 2007 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 711,300 flights, down 1.8 percent from the 724,600 flights operated in February 2007 (Table 7).

In other domestic comparisons from the first two months of 2007 to the first two months of 2008 and from February 2007 to February 2008 (Table 7):

Domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 2.0 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, domestic RPMs were up 3.1 percent. 

Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 1.3 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, domestic ASMs were up 2.7 percent.

Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 0.5 load factor points to 74.4 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, domestic load factor was up 0.3 load factor points to 76.0 percent.

Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.8 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, domestic flight stage length was up 3.4 percent.

Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 0.8 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, domestic passenger trip length was up 1.1 percent.

Southwest carried 15.4 million domestic passengers in the first two months of 2008, the most of any airline (Table 9). In February, Southwest carried 7.7 million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10).

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport in the first two months of 2008, with 5.7 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 11). In February, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport with 2.8 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 12).

International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)

U.S. airlines carried 14.3 million scheduled international passengers during the first two months of 2008, up 6.5 percent from the 13.4 million carried during the same period in 2007 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on 138,900 flights, up 1.7 percent from the 136,700 flights operated in 2007 (Table 13).

In the most recent data month, February, the airlines carried 6.8 million scheduled international passengers, up 8.2 percent from the passengers carried during February 2007. The passengers were carried on 66,300 flights, up 2.4 percent from the 64,700 flights operated in February 2007 (Table 13).

In other international comparisons from the first two months of 2007 to the first two months of 2008 and from February 2007 to February 2008 (Table 13):

International revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 7.8 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, international RPMs were up 9.2 percent. 

International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 7.9 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, international ASMs were up 9.9 percent.

International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.1 load factor points to 74.8 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, international load factor was down 0.4 load factor points to 73.0 percent.

International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 5.4 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, international flight stage length was up 6.4 percent.

International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.3 percent in the first two months of 2008.  In February, international passenger trip length was up 0.9 percent.

American carried 3.4 million international passengers in the first two months of 2008, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 15). In February, American carried 1.6 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 two months of 2008, with 0.8 million international passenger boardings (Table 17). In February, Miami was the busiest international airport with 386,300 international passenger boardings on U.S. carriers (Table 18).

Reporting Notes

Data 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 86 carriers as of May 05 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 February, click on “Air Carrier Summary Data (Form 41 and 298C Summary Data),” and then click on “Schedule T-1.”

For domestic numbers through February and international numbers through November 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. 

TranStats system and international totals do not include U.S. carriers’ foreign point-to-point flights. For February, U.S. carriers reported 239,292 foreign point-to-point passengers. For January through February, U.S. carriers reported 487,636 foreign point-to-point passengers.

Data are subject to revision.  BTS has scheduled June 12 for the release of March traffic data.

Table 1: Scheduled System (Domestic and International) Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers

Excel | CSV

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.

Note: The following airlines have not reported passenger data for February 2008:  ATA Airlines, Shuttle America , Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Tradewind Aviation.

Table 2: Total System (Domestic and International) Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Carriers

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Note: The following airlines have not reported passenger data for February 2008:  ATA Airlines, Shuttle America , Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Tradewind Aviation.

Table 3: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by January-February 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market

* System equals domestic plus international

** US Airways Jan-Feb 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West.  The Jan-Feb 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 3.176 million system passengers in Jan-Feb 2007.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 4: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by February 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market

* System equals domestic plus international

** US Airways February 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West.  The February 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 1.534 million system passengers in February 2007.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 5: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-February 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

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 February 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

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

Excel | CSV

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.

Note: The following airlines have not reported passenger data for February 2008:  ATA Airlines, Shuttle America , Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Tradewind Aviation.

Table 8: Domestic Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Carriers

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Note: The following airlines have not reported passenger data for February 2008:  ATA Airlines, Shuttle America , Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Tradewind Aviation.

Table 9: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by January-February 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market

** US Airways Jan-Feb 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West.  The Jan-Feb 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 2.940 million domestic passengers in Jan-Feb 2007.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 10: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by February 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market

** US Airways February 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West.  The February 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 1.421million domestic passengers in February 2007.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 11: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-February 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

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 February 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

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

Excel | CSV

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. Carriers

Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)

Excel | CSV

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-February 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in thousands (000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market

** US Airways Jan-Feb 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West.  The Jan-Feb 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 235.4 thousand international passengers in Jan-Feb 2007.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 16: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by February 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in thousands (000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market

** US Airways February 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West.  The February 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 112.6 thousand international passengers in February 2007.

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.

Table 17: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-February 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in thousands (000)

Excel | CSV

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 February 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements

Passenger numbers in thousands (000)

Excel | CSV

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market

Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.