Travel on U.S. airlines continues to grow. In April, for the first time, U.S. airlines carried more than 70 million passengers, 0.9 percent more than the 69.7 million than in March, which was the previous all-time high. Continued strong growth in the domestic market coupled with a spurt in international travel produced the record number of passengers in April.
The passenger numbers, seasonally adjusted by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), continue to climb. April’s numbers were up 1.2 percent from the beginning of the year, 4.0 percent from the start of 2016, up 8.5 percent from the beginning of 2015 and up 11.9 percent from January 2014. U.S. airlines carried 7.5 million more passengers in April 2017 than they did in January 2014.
April was the 53rd consecutive month that the number of passengers on U.S. airlines has grown from the previous year. The last month for a year-to-year decrease was November 2012 when the number of passengers fell 0.4 percent from November 2011.
Beginning in December 2012, the first of the 53 months in which total enplanements grew year-to-year, growth in enplanements on international flights outpaced domestic growth for 19 consecutive months. Beginning in July 2014, the pattern reversed and domestic enplanement growth exceeded international growth for 20 consecutive months. Since March 2016, domestic enplanements have grown faster than international enplanements in all but three months. In a reversal of the trend, year-to-year growth in international enplanements exceeded domestic growth by 3.9 percentage points in April 2017, the most recent month.
Since July 2014, enplanements on domestic flights, which make up 87 percent of total U.S. airline enplanements, have been a major driver of the growth in total enplanements. Enplanements on domestic flights topped 61 million for the first time in April 2017, up 0.4 percent from the previous high of 60.9 million in November 2016.
April’s domestic numbers were up 0.8 percent from the beginning of the year, 3.7 percent from the start of 2016, up 8.4 percent from the beginning of 2015 and up 12.2 percent from January 2014. U.S. airlines carried 6.6 million more domestic passengers in April 2017 than they did in January 2014.
April was the 38th consecutive month that the number of passengers on U.S. airlines’ domestic flights has grown from the previous year. The last month for a year-to-year decrease was February 2014 when the number of passengers fell 0.2 percent from February 2013.
Enplanements on U.S. airlines international flights have also been growing. With the unusually strong growth in April, enplanements on international flights topped 9 million for the first time, up 3.3 percent from March, which was the previous high.
April saw renewed growth in international enplanements with the largest year-to-year growth (7.0 percent) since November 2010 and the largest month-to-month growth (3.3 percent) since May 2010.
April’s international numbers were up 3.4 percent from the beginning of the year, 6.0 percent from the start of 2016, up 8.8 percent from the beginning of 2015 and up 10.0 percent from January 2014.
April was the eighth consecutive month that the number of passengers on U.S. airlines’ international flights has grown from the previous year. The last month for a year-to-year decrease was August 2016 when the number of passengers fell 0.4 percent from August 2015.
Changes in Passenger Enplanements, 12-month period May 2015-April 2016 compared to May 2016-April 2017
Fastest Growing/Slowest Growing U.S. Airlines (top 10 airlines) |
| Biggest Gain | Percent Change (%) | Biggest Loss | Percent Change (%) |
Total | Spirit | 15.2 | ExpressJet | -16.3 |
Domestic | Spirit | 16.0 | ExpressJet | -16.0 |
International | Southwest | 29.0 | SkyWest | -20.7 |
Fastest Growing/Slowest Growing Airports (30 busiest airports) |
| Biggest Gain | Percent Change (%) | Biggest Loss | Percent Change (%) |
Total | Fort Lauderdale | 10.3 | Philadelphia | -5.1 |
Domestic | Newark | 8.9 | Houston Bush | -4.7 |
International | Boston | 19.7 | Phoenix | -10.3 |
BTS releases U.S. airline traffic data monthly. BTS has scheduled Aug. 10 for the release of May traffic data. See the BTS release schedule.
Visit the BTS website for air traffic releases, to customize air traffic data, more passenger numbers, or for aviation databases.
The Paris Air Show has attracted aviation enthusiasts from around the world since it began in 1909. This year, Secretary Chao and I were lucky enough to be among them.
As the eyes of the aviation world once again turned to Le Bourget, countless manufacturers were on hand to unveil their latest and greatest aircraft. It was fantastic to see so many American companies represented, with Boeing and Lockheed Martin making headlines for their most recent innovative jet designs.
But the Paris Air Show isn’t just about innovative technologies. It’s also a unique opportunity for international aviation leaders to come together and discuss the 21st Century challenges we face.
Make no mistake: the aviation industry is truly a global community. We collaborate, share information, and implement each other’s best practices. Our goal is simple: to ensure airline passengers experiences the same level of safety and service no matter where they fly.
Thanks to this shared commitment, aviation is the safest form of transportation in the world. But our work doesn’t stop there.
The United States is working closely with our international partners like ICAO to help reduce risks at every stage of flight, improve the efficiency of the global aviation network, and limit our industry’s impact on the environment. This includes making sure our air traffic control systems are harmonized with our counterparts in Europe, South America, and elsewhere.
There was one topic that was on everyone’s mind during this trip to Paris: unmanned aircraft. As drones become increasingly popular, nations around the world are grappling with how best to integrate them into the airspace. And there’s much we can learn from each other.
The United States is proud to be a member of the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems, or JARUS. This group is working together on a single set of requirements for the certification and integration of drones, so that we can benefit from each other’s expertise and avoid duplicating our efforts.
I have no doubt that this partnership – along with the ideas exchanged at events like the Paris Air Show – will be invaluable to the FAA’s drone integration efforts moving forward.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its January 2020 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of November 2019. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.
November On-Time Performance...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its December 2019 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of October 2019. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.October On-Time PerformanceIn October...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its November 2019 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of September 2019. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.September On-Time PerformanceIn...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its October 2019 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of August 2019. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.August On-Time PerformanceIn August 2019,...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its September 2019 Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on reporting marketing and operating air carrier data compiled for the month of July 2019. The full consumer report and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.July On-Time PerformanceIn July 2019,...
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today proposed to select four U.S. airlines to provide new daytime service to Tokyo’s downtown Haneda airport as early as summer 2020.On January 25, 2019, delegations from the United States and Japan tentatively committed to amending the U.S.-Japan aviation agreement to provide for up to 12 additional daytime opportunities for U.S.-carrier operations at Tokyo’s in-town Haneda Airport. DOT expects that the amendment would enter into force in...
Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee and Air Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory CommitteeWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is soliciting applications and nominations for membership on two federal advisory committees on air travel: the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee (ACAA Advisory Committee) and the Air Ambulance and Patient Billing Advisory Committee (AAPB Advisory Committee). These committees are mandated by the FAA...
DOT Advises Air Travelers and Colleges About Tour Packages to College Bowl Games. The U.S. Department of Transportation is reminding consumers going to college bowl games and other special events not to make a payment for a special event air tour package without obtaining either the ticket to the bowl game or other special event or a written confirmation that a ticket to the event is included. Colleges and other organizations are advised that there are DOT requirements on...
