BTS Issues October 2002 Air Traffic Data With Added Information About Small Airlines and Cargo Carriers

Contact BTS 03-03 Dave Smallen 202-366-5568

Monday, March 31, 2003 -- The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released October 2002 air traffic data, the first to include reports by small certificated, commuter and all-cargo carriers in addition to the large passenger airline data that have previously been reported.

For the first time, traffic statistics on passenger and freight traffic, available capacity and seats, and number and duration of flights are available for small certificated, commuter and all-cargo carriers.

In addition to the data for small certificated, commuter and all-cargo carriers, data on the following are available:

• Domestic all-cargo and domestic charter flights operated by U.S. carriers.
• All flights to and from the United States operated by foreign air carriers whose data are subject to a six-month restricted release period. The small-aircraft reporting exclusion has been eliminated.
• Operating carrier reports on joint-service operations, including code-sharing, wet-leasing and substitution-of-service operations.
• Military data in summary totals only.

The October traffic data can be found at TranStats, BTS' Intermodal Transportation Database, at http://transtats.bts.gov/. To reach the data, click on "aviation," then click on "Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)." Air Carrier Traffic Statistics Monthly, the Green Book compilation of October traffic data with the new small certificated and commuter air carrier traffic data., will be available in April, as will updated information on the BTS website, http://www.bts.gov/oai/indicators/top.html. Foreign carrier data are not available in the Green Book but are available for purchase, subject to the six-month restricted release period, in Databank 28.

To order Air Carrier Traffic Statistics Monthly, the Green Book, contact BTS by phone at 202-366-DATA, by fax at 202-366-3197, by e-mail at OAIProducts@bts.gov or by mail send to Product Orders, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, USDOT, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Room 7412, Washington, DC 20590.

The rule requiring the additional data was issued July 30, 2002. To view a copy of the rule, go to the Docket Management System website, http://dms.dot.gov, and follow the instructions for viewing the documents in BTS Docket No. OST 98-4043.