May 2008 Airline Traffic Data: Five-Month 2008 System Traffic Up 0.1 Percent from 2007 but Down 1.3 Percent in May
Thursday, August 14, 2008 - The number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines during the first five months of 2008 grew by 0.1 percent from the same period in 2007, reaching 310.4 million, 0.3 million more 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 in May, the most recent data month, U.S. airlines carried 65.9 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 1.3 percent less than in May 2007, the third consecutive monthly decline from the same month of the previous year (Table 2). The number of domestic passengers decreased 2.3 percent in May from a year earlier and international passengers increased 6.5 percent (Tables 7, 13). The combined domestic and international system load factor of 78.4 percent for January through May was unchanged from last year’s record for the five-month period (Table 1). Load factor measures the use of the airlines’ passenger capacity. U.S. airlines carried 0.6 percent fewer domestic passengers and 5.7 percent more international passengers during the first five months of 2008 than during the same period in 2007 (Tables 7, 13). Top AirlinesSouthwest Airlines carried more total system and more domestic passengers for the first five 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 five 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 4.3 million domestic and international flights in the first five months of 2008, 1.6 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 1.7 percent (Tables 7, 13). In May, U.S. airlines operated 888,000 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 3.1 percent from the number of flights operated in May 2007 (Table 1). The number of domestic flights decreased 3.5 percent in May from a year earlier while international flights were up 1.0 percent (Tables 7, 13). System (Domestic + International) Comparisons (Tables 1-6)In other total system comparisons from the first five months of 2007 to the first five months of 2008 and from May 2007 to May 2008 (Table 1): Revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 2.0 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, RPMs were up 1.1 percent. Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 2.1 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, ASMs were up 0.8 percent. Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was unchanged at 78.4 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, load factor increased 0.2 percentage points to 80.9 percent. Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 3.0 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, flight stage length was up 3.1 percent. Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.9 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, passenger trip length was up 2.4 percent. Among U.S. airlines, Southwest carried 42.8 million passengers on its system in the first five months of 2008, the most of any airline (Table 3). In May, Southwest carried 9.3 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 five months of 2008, with 17.3 million domestic and international passenger boardings (Table 5). In May, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport with 3.7 million domestic and international passenger boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6). Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)U.S. airlines carried 272.0 million scheduled domestic passengers during the first five months of 2008, down 0.6 percent from the 273.7 million carried during the same period in 2007 (Table 7). The passengers were carried on 3.9 million flights, down 1.9 percent from the number of flights operated in 2007 (Table 7). In the most recent data month, May, the airlines carried 57.9 million scheduled domestic passengers, down 2.3 percent from the passengers carried during May 2007 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 814,600 flights, down 3.5 percent from the 844,000 flights operated in May 2007 (Table 7). In other domestic comparisons from the first five months of 2007 to the first five months of 2008 and from May 2007 to May 2008 (Table 7): Domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 0.1 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, domestic RPMs were down 1.6 percent. Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were unchanged in the first five months of 2008. In May, domestic ASMs were down 1.7 percent. Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was unchanged at 78.6 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, domestic load factor was also unchanged at 81.3 percent. Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.1 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, domestic flight stage length was up 1.9 percent. Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 0.7 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, domestic passenger trip length was also up 0.7 percent. Southwest carried 42.8 million domestic passengers in the first five months of 2008, the most of any airline (Table 9). In May, Southwest carried 9.3 million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10). Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport in the first five months of 2008, with 15.6 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 11). In May, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport with 3.3 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 12). International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)U.S. airlines carried 38.4 million scheduled international passengers during the first five months of 2008, up 5.7 percent from the 36.3 million carried during the same period in 2007 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on 362,400 flights, up 1.7 percent from the 356,300 flights operated in 2007 (Table 13). In the most recent data month, May, the airlines carried 8.0 million scheduled international passengers, up 6.5 percent from the passengers carried during May 2007. The passengers were carried on 73,400 flights, up 1.0 percent from the 72,700 flights operated in May 2007 (Table 13). In other international comparisons from the first five months of 2007 to the first five months of 2008 and from May 2007 to May 2008 (Table 13): International revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 7.0 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, international RPMs were up 8.1 percent. International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 7.2 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, international ASMs were up 7.2 percent. International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.2 load factor points to 77.9 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, international load factor was up 0.6 load factor points to 80.0 percent. International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 4.8 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, international flight stage length was up 5.4 percent. International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.2 percent in the first five months of 2008. In May, international passenger trip length was up 1.5 percent. American carried 8.9 million international passengers in the first five months of 2008, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 15). In May, American carried 1.8 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 five months of 2008, with 2.1 million international passenger boardings (Table 17). In May, Miami was the busiest international airport with 424,900 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 86 carriers as of Aug. 4. 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 May, 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 May and international numbers through February 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. Summary numbers on TranStats may differ from the press release because data for carriers requesting confidentiality are withheld from TranStats. TranStats system and international totals do not include U.S. carriers’ foreign point-to-point flights. For May, U.S. carriers reported 230,554 foreign point-to-point passengers. For January through May, U.S. carriers reported 1,193,268 foreign point-to-point passengers. Data are subject to revision. BTS has scheduled Sept. 11 for the release of June 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-May 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-May 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The Jan-May 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 8.678 million system passengers in Jan-May 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 4. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by May 2008 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international ** US Airways May 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The May 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 1.832 million system passengers in May 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 5. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-May 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 May 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-May 2008 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market * US Airways Jan-May 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The Jan-May 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 8.071 million domestic passengers in Jan-May 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 10. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by May 2008 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market * US Airways May 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The May 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 1.717 million domestic passengers in May 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 11. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-May 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 May 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-May 2008 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market * US Airways Jan-May 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The Jan-May 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 606.8 thousand international passengers in Jan-May 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 16. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by May 2008 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market * US Airways May 2008 number is the report of the merged US Airways and America West. The May 2007 numbers were reported separately by US Airways and America West. America West reported 115.4 thousand international passengers in May 2007. Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 17. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-May 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 May 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:
http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2008/bts040_08/html/bts040_08.html |