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Impact of September 11 on Airlines
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BTS 1-02
David Smallen
202-366-5568 |
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Wednesday, January 9, 2002 -- The U.S. Department of Transportations Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS) today released its monthly Transportation
Indicators report showing that airline employment and revenues, as well as
air traffic, declined significantly following the September 11 terrorists
attacks.
The December Indicators report documents the far-reaching impact
of the events of September 11 on the nations airlines, with declines in
passengers, flights, freight, load factors and other measures of performance.
Although these indicators show dramatic drops for the month overall, the
declines caused by the September 11 terrorist attack only took place in the last two-thirds of the month.
Dr. Ashish Sen, BTS Director, said, "Transportation
Indicators provides the data to show how the events of September 11 had a
major impact on our transportation system. Through this monthly report, we can
continue to monitor the nations transportation system.
According to the report:
- Employment in air transportation fell 3.6 percent in November,
following a 2.8 percent decline in October. Employment in transportation
services such as tour and travel agencies and forwarding services fell 2.7
percent in November.
- There were nearly 18 percent fewer scheduled flights in October
than in October 2000. Of those flights, 85 percent arrived on time, compared to
76 percent in October 2000.
- Large air carriers operating revenues fell 17 percent in the
third quarter compared to the same quarter of 2000, while operating expenses
fell by only 1 percent.
Comparisons of this past September to September 2000 found:
- Revenue passenger miles were down 32 percent for domestic and 29
percent for international flights.
- Available seat miles were down 19 percent for domestic and 15
percent for international flights.
- Revenue ton-miles were down 24 percent for domestic and 31 percent
for international flights.
- Available ton-miles were down 13 percent for domestic and 21
percent for international flights.
- Passenger load factors were down 10 percent for domestic flights
and 13 percent for international flights.
- Aircraft revenue departures were down 21 percent for domestic and
19 percent for international flights.
- Revenue enplanements were down 34 percent for domestic and 27
percent for international flights.
The BTS Transportation Indicators report is a monthly update of critical transportation information that details the impact of transportation on the nations economy and society.
Transportation Indicators provides information on more than 100 trends in the areas of safety, mobility, economic growth, the human and natural environment, and national security. The monthly report, which is available at www.bts.gov,
provides information to address specific transportation issues and to assist in
the effort led by BTS to make transportation information more accurate, reliable
and timely. Updated reports will be available on the BTS website at the end of
every month.
Other trends highlighted in this months report are:
- Producer prices for rail freight transportation fell in November,
but were still up more than 3 percent since November 2000, after a sharp rise in
October. This was the second highest 12-month increase in the five years of data tracked in Indicators.
- Producer prices of highway and street construction declined 3
percent in November from November 2000, the largest 1-year decline since
November 1991.
- Public spending on highway and street construction dropped
slightly in October, down .65 percent from a recent peak in June.
- Consumer prices for transportation services declined 1.5 percent
from October to November.
- Advance retail sales of motor vehicles dropped nearly 13 percent
in November, after a sharp rise in October.
- Manufacturers new orders rose 7 percent in October after
falling 6 percent in September.
- Manufacturers new orders for future delivery of transportation
equipment jumped 39 percent in October after falling 6 percent in September.
- Highway vehicle miles traveled rose slightly from August to
September but were still down 1 percent or nearly 3 billion miles from 2000
after a drop in June of this year.
- Railroad accidents/incidents fell to a 10-year low in September
22 percent lower than in September 2000.
- Net petroleum imports fell slightly in October, but remained 4
percent higher than in October 2000.
- Retail gasoline prices dropped 3 percent in the week ending Dec.
17their lowest level since Feb. 22, 1999.
- Motor vehicle fuel economy rose in 2000 for both passenger cars
and light trucks about 3 percent each over 1999according to the latest
data from the Department of Energy.
- U.S. international trade continued to decline in
Septemberimports were down more than 2 percent and exports were down almost 7
percent from August.
- The value of U.S. truck trade with Canada and Mexico declined 14 percent and 17 percent respectively in September compared to the previous year.
Continual updating of information on trends will help in developing forecasts for the future, both within the department and outside. The monthly report will also help transportation decision-makers spot changes that might require rapid
action.
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