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May 2006 Airline Traffic: Five-Month System Traffic Up 0.9 Percent From 2005
Thursday, Aug.10, 2006 - U.S. airlines carried 301.9 million scheduled domestic and international passengers on their systems during the first five months of 2006, 0.9 percent more than they did during the same period in 2005, 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 the U.S. airlines carried 0.4 percent more domestic passengers and 5.8 percent more international passengers during the five-month period in 2006 than during the same period in 2005 (Tables 7, 13). In the most recent month, May, U.S. airlines carried 64.0 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 0.3 percent fewer than in May 2005, the second time in three months that U.S. airlines carried fewer system passengers than the previous year (Table 2). The number of domestic passengers declined 0.4 percent in May from a year earlier while international passengers increased 5.8 percent (Tables 7, 13). U.S. carriers operated 4.27 million domestic and international flights during the first five months of 2006, 4.8 percent fewer than were operated during the same period in 2005 (Table 1). Domestic fights were down 5.4 percent from the previous year while international flights were up 2.3 percent (Tables 7, 13). In the most recent month, May, U.S. airlines operated 875,500 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 7.2 percent from the number of flights operated in May 2005. The number of domestic flights declined 7.8 percent in May from a year earlier while international flights increased 0.2 percent (Tables 7, 13). System Comparisons (Table 1-6)In other total system comparisons from the first five months of 2005 to the first five months of 2006 and from May 2005 to May 2006 (Table 1): Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 2.7 percent in the first five months. In May, RPMs were up 1.8 percent. Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were down 1.2 percent in the first five months. In May, ASMs were down 0.7 percent. Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 2.6 load factor points to 78.4 percent in the first five months. In May, load factor was up 1.3 load factor points to 80.3 percent. Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 3.6 percent in the first five months. In May, flight stage length was up 5.2 percent. Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.7 percent in the first five months. In May, passenger trip length was up 2.1 percent. Among U.S. airlines, American Airlines carried 40.7 million passengers on its system from January to May, the most of any airline (Table 3). In May, American Airlines carried 8.6 million passengers on its system, the most of any airline (Table 4). Among airports, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was the busiest U.S. airport from January to May, with 16.5 million domestic and international passenger boardings (Table 5). In May, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was the busiest U.S. airport with 3.6 million domestic and international passenger boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6). Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)U.S. airlines carried 267.1 million scheduled domestic passengers during the first five months of 2006, up from the 266.1 million carried during the same period in 2005 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 3.92 million flights, down 5.4 percent from the 4.14 million flights operated in the first five months of 2005 (Table 7). In the most recent month, May 2006, the airlines carried 56.7 million domestic passengers, down from the 57.3 million carried during May 2005. The passengers were carried on 804,500 flights, down 7.8 percent from the 872,600 flights operated in May 2005 (Table 7). Following are other domestic comparisons from the first five months of 2005 to the first five months of 2006 and from May 2005 to May 2006 (Table 7). Domestic revenue passenger miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 1.8 percent in the first five months. In May, domestic RPMs were up 0.4 percent. Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were down 2.5 percent in the first five months. In May, domestic ASMs were down 3.3 percent. Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 3.3 load factor points to 78.5 percent in the first five months. In May, domestic load factor was up 2.9 load factor points to 80.5 percent. Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.9 percent in the first five months. In May, domestic flight stage length was up 4.3 percent. Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.4 percent in the first five months. In May, domestic passenger trip length was up 1.4 percent. Southwest Airlines carried 34.7 million domestic passengers from January to May, the most of any airline (Table 9). In May, Southwest carried 8.5 million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10). Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport from January to May, with 15.1 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 11). In May, Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport with 3.2 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 12). International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)U.S. airlines carried 34.9 million scheduled international passengers during the first five months of 2006, up from the 33 million carried during the same period in 2005 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on 348,200 flights, up 2.3 percent from the 340,500 flights operated in the first five months of 2005 (Table 13). In the most recent month, May 2006, the airlines carried 7.3 million international passengers, up from the 6.9 million carried during May 2005. The passengers were carried on 70,900 flights, up 0.1 percent from the 70,800 flights operated in May 2005 (Table 13). In other international comparisons from the first five months of 2005 to the first five months of 2006 and from May 2005 to May 2006 (Table 13): International revenue passenger miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 5.3 percent in the first five months. In May, international RPMs were up 5.5 percent. International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 4.5 percent in the first five months. In May, international ASMs were up 4.8 percent. International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was up 0.5 load factor points in the first five months. In May, international load factor was up 0.8 load factor points. International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.3 percent in the first five months. In May, international flight stage length was up 4.7 percent. International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was down 0.4 percent in the first five months. In May, international passenger trip length was down 0.3 percent. American Airlines carried 8.7 million international passengers from January to May, 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 from January to May, with 1.82 million international passenger boardings (Table 17). In May, Miami International was the busiest international airport with 375,100 international passenger boardings (Table 18). Reporting NotesData are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial air carriers detailing operations, passenger traffic and freight traffic. This release includes data received by BTS from 86 U.S. carriers as of Aug. 8 for U.S. carrier scheduled civilian operations. Foreign point-to-point flights operated by U.S. carriers 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 domestic traffic numbers through May and international traffic numbers through February are available on the BTS website at TranStats, the Intermodal Transportation Database at http://transtats.bts.gov. Click on "Aviation," then on "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)". For passenger numbers, click on "T-100 Market" for system, "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. For RPMs and ASMs, after clicking on "Aviation", click on "Air Carrier Summary Data (Form 41 and 298C Summary Data)", and then click on "Schedule T-1". Data are subject to revision. BTS has scheduled Sept. 14 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: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 2: Total Industry (Domestic and International) Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. CarriersPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 3: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by Jan.-May 2006 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 4: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by May 2006 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 5: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by Jan.-May 2006 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 6: Top 10 U.S. Airports ranked by May 2006 System* Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market * System equals domestic plus international Note: Percentage 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: Percentage 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: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 9: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by Jan.-May 2006 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 10: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by May 2006 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 11: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by Jan.-May 2006 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 12: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by May 2006 Domestic Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Market Note: Percentage 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: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 14: Total Industry International Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. CarriersPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding. Table 15: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by Jan.-May 2006 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 16: Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by May 2006 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in millions (000,000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 17: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by Jan.-May 2006 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Table 18: Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by May 2006 International Scheduled EnplanementsPassenger numbers in thousands (000)
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 International Market Note: Percentage changes based on numbers prior to rounding Find this web page at:
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