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BTS Releases September Airline Traffic Data; September 2003 Domestic Traffic Up 1.1 Percent From September 2002
Friday, January 23, 2004 - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported, in a release of preliminary data, that U.S. airlines carried 1.1 percent more domestic passengers in September 2003 than in September 2002, based on a year-to-year comparison of the airlines that reported traffic data in both months (Table 1). U.S. airlines carried 0.4 percent less domestic passengers during the first nine months of 2003 than in the comparable period in 2002 based on a year-to-year comparison of the airlines that reported traffic data in both years (Table 1). Traffic was down 2.9 percent during the first nine months of 2003 from the same period in 2001 for the Continuously Reporting Carriers. This included the pre-Sept. 11 period as well as the immediate impact of the terrorist attack (Table 1). Commuter and small certificated carriers began reporting traffic data in October 2002. All reporting U.S. airlines carried 44.3 million domestic passengers in September 2003 (Table 2). This number includes 40.6 million domestic passengers on Continuously Reporting Carriers and 3.6 million domestic passengers from the collection of commuter and small certificated carriers that began reporting in October 2002 (Table 2A). Total domestic enplanements fell 18.3 percent in September 2003 from August 2003 for all domestic flights operated by U.S. airlines. (Tables 2 and 2A). Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal factors. BTS is releasing separate numbers for the Continuously Reporting Carriers and the new group of reporting carriers to allow year-to-year comparisons with comparable data. Changes in traffic carried by continuously reporting carriers do not necessarily mean the same trends have taken place on the commuter and small certificated airlines that began reporting in October 2002. Among airlines, Southwest Airlines regained the number one position in reporting the largest number of domestic enplanements in September 2003 - 5.7 million. (Table 3). The margin between Southwest and second place Delta Air Lines was a very slim 1,354 domestic enplanements. After an absence of four months, American Eagle appeared in the top 10 rankings at the number 10 position. (Table 3). Among airports, Hartsfield International in Atlanta continued in September to be the busiest domestic airport, with 2.7 million passenger boardings (Table 4). Table 4 includes the domestic enplanements for all reporting carriers, and not just the 'Continuously Reporting Carriers'. Table 1: Domestic Enplanements for Continuously Reporting Carriers
Source: T-100 Domestic Market Table 2. Total Industry Domestic Enplanements
Source: T-100 Domestic Market Table 2A: Domestic Enplanements for New and Continuously Reporting Carriers
Source: T-100 Domestic Market Additional airline traffic data can be found 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)", then click on "T-100 Domestic Market." Table 3. Top 10 Airlines, ranked by September 2003 Domestic Enplanements
Source: T-100 Domestic Market Table 4. Top 10 Airports ranked by September 2003 Domestic Enplanements
Source: T-100 Domestic Market Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by commercial air carriers detailing operations, passenger traffic and freight traffic. September 2003 traffic data are preliminary and include data received by BTS as of Jan. 13. Data are subject to revision. Revised data from August and previous months are posted on the BTS website at http://transtats.bts.gov. BTS will release October traffic in February. |
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