BTS | December 2008 Airline Traffic Data: System Traffic Down 5.7 Percent in December from 2007 and Down 3.7 Percent in 2008

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BTS Home > Press Releases > 2009

December 2008 Airline Traffic Data: System Traffic Down 5.7 Percent in December from 2007 and Down 3.7 Percent in 2008

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BTS 12-09
Dave Smallen
202-366-5568

Thursday, March 12, 2009 - The number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines in December 2008 declined by 5.7 percent from December 2007, dropping by 3.4 million to 57.4 million, the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1). December was the 10th consecutive month with a decrease in passengers from 2007.

BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, in a release of preliminary data, reported that U.S. airlines carried 5.7 percent fewer domestic passengers than in December 2007. International passengers on U.S. carriers decreased 5.6 percent (Tables 7, 13).

For the full year of 2008, the number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines declined by 3.7 percent from 2007, dropping to 741.4 million, 28.2 million fewer than a year earlier (Table 2). It was the first year-to-year decline since 2002 and the fewest number of annual system passengers since 2005.

U.S. airlines carried 4.3 percent fewer domestic passengers and 1.2 percent more international passengers during 2008 than in 2007 (Tables 7, 13).

The combined domestic and international system load factor of 79.5 percent in 2008 was down 0.4 load factor points from last year’s record for the year (Table 1). Load factor measures the use of the airlines’ passenger capacity.

In December, the system load factor was 78.5 percent, up 2.1 points from December in 2007. The domestic load factor was 79.1 percent, up 3.5 points from December 2007. The international load factor at 77.1 percent was down 1.4 points from December 2007.

Top Airlines in 2008

Southwest Airlines carried more total system passengers in 2008 than any other U.S. airline for the second consecutive year (Table 3). Southwest also carried more domestic passengers in 2008 than any other U.S. airline for the fifth consecutive year (Table 9). American Airlines carried more international passengers in 2008 than any other U.S. carrier for the 19th consecutive year (Table 15).

America West Airlines and US Airways now operate under a single certificate and report jointly as US Airways. Numbers reported as US Airways prior to October 2007 do not include America West’s numbers. See the notes for system, domestic and international airline ranking tables 3, 9 and 15 for America West’s 2007 passenger numbers.

Top Airports in 2008

More total system and domestic passengers boarded planes in 2008 at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport for the 13th consecutive year (Tables 5 and 11); and more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport for the 14th consecutive year (Table 17).

Flights Operated

U.S. carriers operated 10.2 million domestic and international flights in 2008, 5.0 percent fewer than were operated in 2007 (Table 1). Domestic flights decreased 5.2 percent from the previous year while international flights were down 1.7 percent (Tables 7, 13).

In December, U.S. airlines operated 786,200 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 10.3 percent from the number of flights operated in December 2007 (Table 1). The number of domestic flights decreased 10.6 percent in December from a year earlier while international flights were down 7.0 percent (Tables 7, 13).

System (Domestic + International) Comparisons (Tables 1-6)

In other total system comparisons from 2007 to 2008 and from December 2007 to December 2008 (Table 1):

Revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were down 2.2 percent in 2008. In December, RPMs were down 6.1 percent.

Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were down 1.7 percent in 2008. In December, ASMs were down 8.6 percent.

Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.4 load factor points at 79.5 percent in 2008. In December, load factor increased 2.1 load factor points to 78.5 percent.

Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 2.0 percent in 2008. In December, flight stage length was down 0.2 percent.

Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.5 percent in 2008. In December, passenger trip length was down 0.4 percent.

Among U.S. airlines, Southwest carried 101.9 million passengers on its system in 2008, the most of any airline (Table 3). In December, Southwest carried 8.0 million passengers on its system, the most of any airline (Table 4).

Among airports, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport in 2008, with 43.1 million domestic and international passenger boardings (Table 5). In December, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest U.S. airport with 3.5 million domestic and international passenger boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6).

Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)

U.S. airlines carried 649.9 million scheduled domestic passengers in 2008, down 4.3 percent from the 679.2 million carried in 2007 and the fewest annual domestic passengers since 2004 (Table 7). The passengers were carried on 9.3 million flights, down 5.2 percent from the number of flights operated in 2007 (Table 7).

In the most recent data month, December, the airlines carried 50.2 million scheduled domestic passengers, down 5.7 percent from the number of passengers carried during December 2007 and the fewest domestic passengers of any December since 2003 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 718,900 flights, down 10.6 percent from the 804,000 flights operated in December 2007 (Table 7).

In other domestic comparisons from 2007 to 2008 and from December 2007 to December 2008 (Table 7):

Domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were down 4.2 percent in 2008. In December, domestic RPMs were down 6.9 percent.

Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were down 4.1 percent in 2008. In December, domestic ASMs were down 11.1 percent.

Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 0.1 load factor points at 79.8 percent in 2008. In December, domestic load factor was up 3.5 load factor points at 79.1 percent.

Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 0.8 percent in 2008. In December, domestic flight stage length was down 1.8 percent.

Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 0.1 percent in 2008. In December, domestic passenger trip length was down 1.3 percent.

Southwest carried 101.9 million domestic passengers in 2008, the most of any airline (Table 9). In December, Southwest carried 8.0 million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10).

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport in 2008, with 39.0 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 11). In December, Atlanta 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 91.5 million scheduled international passengers in 2008, up 1.2 percent from the 90.5 million carried in 2007 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on 848,200 flights, down 1.7 percent from the 862,900 flights operated in 2007 (Table 13).

In the most recent data month, December, the airlines carried 7.1 million scheduled international passengers, down 5.6 percent from the number of passengers carried during December 2007. The passengers were carried on 67,300 flights, down 7.0 percent from the 72,300 flights operated in December 2007 (Table 13).

In other international comparisons from 2007 to 2008 and from December 2007 to December 2008 (Table 13):

International revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the distance flown, were up 2.9 percent in 2008. In December, international RPMs were down 4.2 percent.

International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 4.2 percent in 2008. In December, international ASMs were down 2.3 percent.

International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available seat-miles, was down 1.0 load factor points to 79.0 percent in 2008. In December, international load factor was down 1.4 load factor points to 77.1 percent.

International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up 4.8 percent in 2008. In December, international flight stage length was up 3.6 percent.

International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 1.7 percent in 2008. In December, international passenger trip length was up 1.5 percent.

American carried 21.2 million international passengers in 2008, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 15). In December, American carried 1.7 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 in 2008, with 5.1 million international passenger boardings (Table 17). In December, Miami was the busiest U.S. airport for international travel on U.S. carriers with 457,300 international passenger boardings (Table 18).

Reporting Notes

Data are compiled from monthly reports filed with BTS by commercial U.S. air carriers detailing operations, passenger traffic and freight traffic. This release includes data received by BTS from 86 carriers as of March 3 for U.S. carrier scheduled civilian operations. Go to http://www.transtats.bts.gov/releaseinfo.asp for the complete list of reporting and non-reporting carriers. U.S. carriers’ foreign point-to-point flights 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 traffic numbers are available on the BTS website at TranStats, the Intermodal Transportation Database, at http://transtats.bts.gov. Click on “Aviation.” For system passengers, RPMs and ASMs by carrier through December, click on “Air Carrier Summary Data (Form 41 and 298C Summary Data),” and then click on “Schedule T-1.” Use crosstabs to find scheduled service.

For domestic numbers through December and international numbers through September by origin as well as by carrier, after clicking on “Aviation,” click on “Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic).” Click on “T-100 Market” for system passenger numbers, “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. Use crosstabs to find scheduled service.

TranStats system and international totals do not include U.S. carriers’ foreign point-to-point flights. For December, U.S. carriers reported 247,702 foreign point-to-point passengers. For 2008, U.S. carriers reported 2,852,076 foreign point-to-point passengers.

Data are subject to revision. BTS has scheduled April 16 for the release of January traffic data.

December 2008 Airline Traffic Data: System Traffic Down 5.7 Percent in December from 2007 and Down 3.7 Percent in 2008

Top Airlines in 2008

Top Airports in 2008

Flights Operated

System (Domestic + International) Comparisons (Tables 1-6)

Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)

International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)

Reporting Notes

Table 1. Scheduled System (Domestic and International) Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers

Table 2. Total System (Domestic and International) Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Carriers

Table 3. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Table 4. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by December 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Table 5. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Table 6. Top 10 U.S. Airports ranked by December 2008 System* Scheduled Enplanements

Table 7. Domestic Scheduled Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers

Table 8. Domestic Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Carriers

Table 9. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Table 10. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by December 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Table 11. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Table 12. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by December 2008 Domestic Scheduled Enplanements

Table 13. International Scheduled Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers

Table 14. International Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Carriers

Table 15. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements

Table 16. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by December 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements

Table 17. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Airlines

Table 18. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by December 2008 International Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Airlines