Transportation Indicators Report: Secretary Slater Says Air Passenger Loads on Domestic Flights are at a High

Contact BTS 16-00 Catrina Pavlik 202-366-1500

Thursday, October 26, 2000 -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today released a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showing that air passenger load factors climbed this past summer to their highest level in five years, continuing the trends to more air travel, smaller planes and more effective matching of aircraft with passenger loads.

Load factors are the amount of freight or passengers carried compared to capacity.

The report shows that during June and July 2000 the domestic air-passenger load factors were 78.3 and 77.8 percent, respectively, the highest levels in the last five years. This information is part of the Transportation Indicators-a monthly update of critical transportation information that details the impact of transportation on the nation's economy and society.

"In the spirit of President Clinton and Vice President Gore's 'putting people first,' we are examining transportation trends in order to collect data that will help form the basis for transportation decisions in the new century and the new millennium," Secretary Slater said.

Dr. Ashish Sen, BTS Director, said, "BTS is leading the effort to gather information on trends that are changing the transportation system. Tracking transportation trends such as these can help improve transportation decisions being made in the private and public sectors."

Transportation Indicators provides information on more than 60 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.

Trends highlighted in this month's Transportation Indicators include:

• International waterborne container traffic grew by almost 10 percent
• Personal spending on motor vehicles and parts declined in the second quarter of 2000
• Air freight rates have risen 15 percent this year
• Highway and street construction costs in September were 8 percent higher than a year ago
• Second-quarter profits for transportation industries jumped nearly 25 percent over the first quarter of 2000
• Sales of medium and heavy trucks dropped from a year ago
• On-highway diesel prices reached a new high for recent years
• The value of all U.S. exports in August jumped more than 4 percent over the July level
• The value of surface trade with Canada and Mexico continued to rise, with pipeline and rail experiencing rapid growth

Continual updating of information on trends will help in developing forecasts for the future, both within the U.S. Department of Transportation and outside. The monthly report will also help transportation decision-makers spot changes that might need rapid action. Updated reports will be available the fourth week of every month.