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BTS
57-07
Contact: Dave Smallen, Tel.: (202) 366-5568
Thursday, December 14, 2007
U.S. airlines carried 582.0 million scheduled
domestic and international passengers on their systems during the first nine
months of 2007, 3.6 percent or 20 million more passengers than they did during
the same period in 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of
Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported in a release of preliminary
data (Table 1).
BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration,
reported that the combined domestic and international load factor of 80.7
percent from January through September was a record for the nine-month period
(Table 1).
U.S. airlines would carry a record number of passengers in 2007 if growth from
2006 continues for the rest of the year.
U.S. airlines carried 3.5 percent more domestic passengers and 4.4 percent
more international passengers during the first nine months of 2007 than during
the same period in 2006 (Tables 7, 13).
In September, the most recent data month, U.S. airlines carried 59.2 million
scheduled domestic and international passengers, 4.9 percent more than in
September 2006 (Table 2). The number of domestic passengers increased 4.7
percent in September from a year earlier and international passengers
increased 6.5 percent (Tables 7, 13).
Top Airlines
Southwest Airlines carried more total system and more domestic passengers for
the first nine months than any other U.S. airline (Tables 3 and 9). American
Airlines carried more international passengers than any U.S. carrier (Table
15).
Top Airports
More total system and domestic passengers boarded planes in the first nine
months at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S.
airport (Tables 5 and 11); and more international passengers boarded planes on
U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport (Table
17).
Flights Operated
U.S. carriers operated 8.0 million domestic and international flights in the
first nine months of 2007, 0.8 percent more than were operated during the same
period in 2006 (Table 1). Domestic flights increased 0.9 percent from the
previous year while international flights were up 0.6 percent (Tables 7, 13).
In September, U.S. airlines operated 866,700 scheduled domestic and
international flights, up 0.1 percent from the number of flights operated in
September 2006 (Table 1). The number of domestic flights increased 0.2 percent
in September from a year earlier while international flights decreased 0.1
percent (Tables 7, 13).
America West Airlines and US Airways reported data separately in September
because the carriers held two operating certificates despite their merged
business operations. They are now operating under a single certificate and
will begin reporting data jointly later this year.
System Comparisons (Tables 1-6)
In other total system comparisons from the first nine months of 2006 to the
first nine months of 2007 and from September 2006 to September 2007 (Table 1):
Revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers and the
distance flown, were up 4.0 percent in the first nine months of 2007. In
September, RPMs were up 5.8 percent.
Available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the number of
seats and the distance flown, were up 2.8 percent in the first nine months of
2007. In September, ASMs were up 3.2 percent.
Passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available
seat-miles, was up 0.9 percentage points to 80.7 percent in the first nine
months of 2007. In September, load factor was up 1.9 percentage points to 76.8
percent.
Flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per departure, was up
1.2 percent in the first nine months of 2007. In September, flight stage
length was up 2.7 percent.
Passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was up 0.4
percent in the first nine months of 2007. In September, passenger trip length
was up 0.8 percent.
Among U.S. airlines, Southwest carried 77.0 million passengers on its system
from January to September, the most of any airline (Table 3). In September,
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 from
January through September, with 32.0 million domestic and international
passenger boardings (Table 5). In September, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was
the busiest U.S. airport with 3.3 million domestic and international passenger
boardings on U. S. carriers (Table 6).
Domestic Air Travel (Tables 7-12)
U.S. airlines carried 513.0 million scheduled domestic passengers during the
first nine months of 2007, up 3.5 percent from the 495.9 million carried
during the same period in 2006 (Table 7). The passengers were carried on 7.3
million flights, up 0.9 percent from the number of flights operated in 2006
(Table 7).
In the most recent month, September, the airlines carried 52.3 million
scheduled domestic passengers, up 4.7 percent from the passengers carried
during September 2006 (Table 8). The passengers were carried on 801,000
flights, up 0.2 percent from the 799,800 flights operated in September 2006
(Table 7).
In other domestic comparisons from the first nine months of 2006 to the first
nine months of 2007 and from September 2006 to September 2007 (Table 7):
Domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of passengers
and the distance flown, were up 3.2 percent in the first nine months of 2007.
In September, domestic RPMs were up 4.9 percent.
Domestic available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using the
number of seats and the distance flown, were up 1.8 percent in the first nine
months of 2007. In September, domestic ASMs were up 2.4 percent.
Domestic passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of available
seat-miles, was up 1.0 load factor points to 80.8 percent in the first nine
months of 2007. In September, domestic load factor was up 1.8 load factor
points to 75.6 percent.
Domestic flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per
departure, was up 0.4 percent in the first nine months of 2007. In September,
domestic flight stage length was up 2.1 percent.
Domestic passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger, was
down 0.3 percent in the first nine months of 2007. In September, domestic
passenger trip length was up 0.2 percent.
Southwest carried 77.0 million domestic passengers in the first nine months of
2007, the most of any airline (Table 9). In September, Southwest carried 8.0
million domestic passengers, the most of any airline (Table 10).
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport in the first nine
months of 2007, with 29.0 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 11). In
September, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson was the busiest domestic airport with
3.0 million domestic passenger boardings (Table 12).
International Air Travel (Tables 13-18)
U.S. airlines carried 69.0 million scheduled international passengers during
the first nine months of 2007, up 4.4 percent from the 66.1 million carried
during the same period in 2006 (Table 14). The passengers were carried on
652,400 flights, up 0.6 percent from the 648,400 flights operated in 2006
(Table 13).
In the most recent month, September, the airlines carried 6.9 million
scheduled international passengers, up 6.5 percent from the passengers carried
during September 2006. The passengers were carried on 65,600 flights, down 0.1
percent from the 65,700 flights operated in August 2006 (Table 13).
In other international comparisons from the first nine months of 2006 to the
first nine months of 2007 and from September 2006 to September 2007 (Table
13):
International revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), a measure of the number of
passengers and the distance flown, were up 5.9 percent in the first nine
months of 2007. In September, international RPMs were up 7.7 percent.
International available seat-miles (ASMs), a measure of airline capacity using
the number of seats and the distance flown, were up 5.4 percent in the first
nine months of 2007. In September, international ASMs were up 5.3 percent.
International passenger load factor, passenger miles as a proportion of
available seat-miles, was up 0.4 load factor points to 80.5 percent in the
first nine months of 2007. In September, international load factor was up 1.6
load factor points to 79.3 percent.
International flight stage length, the average non-stop distance flown per
departure, was up 4.5 percent in the first nine months of 2007. In September,
international flight stage length was up 5.1 percent.
International passenger trip length, the average distance flown per passenger,
was up 1.5 percent in the first nine months of 2007. In September,
international passenger trip length was up 1.1 percent.
American carried 16.4 million international passengers in the first nine
months of 2007, the most of any U.S. airline (Table 15). In September,
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 the first nine months of 2007, with 3.6 million international
passenger boardings (Table 17). In September, Miami was the busiest
international airport with 355.600 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 94 carriers as of Dec. 5 for U.S.
carrier scheduled civilian operations. 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 June,
click on “Air Carrier Summary Data (Form 41 and 298C Summary Data),” and then
click on “Schedule T-1.”
For domestic numbers through September and international numbers through June
by origin as well as by carrier and region, 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.
TranStats system and international totals do not include U.S. carriers’
foreign point-to-point flights. For September, U.S. carriers reported 234,247
foreign point-to-point passengers. For January through September, U.S.
carriers reported 2,256,643 foreign point-to-point passengers.
Data are subject to revision. BTS has scheduled Jan. 10, 2008 for the release
of October traffic data.
Table 1: Scheduled System (Domestic and International) Airline Travel on U.S. Carriers
|
|
Monthly |
Year-to-Date |
||||
|
Sept 2006 |
Sept 2007 |
Change % |
2006 |
2007 |
Change % |
|
|
Passengers (in millions) |
56.4 |
59.2 |
4.9 |
562.0 |
582.0 |
3.6 |
|
Flights (in thousands) |
865.5 |
866.7 |
0.1 |
7,931.6 |
7,998.1 |
0.8 |
|
Revenue Passenger Miles(in billions) |
61.2 |
64.8 |
5.8 |
604.5 |
628.5 |
4.0 |
|
Available Seat-Miles(in billions) |
81.7 |
84.4 |
3.2 |
757.1 |
778.6 |
2.8 |
|
Load Factor* |
74.9 |
76.8 |
1.9 |
79.8 |
80.7 |
0.9 |
|
Flight Stage Length** |
689.6 |
708.1 |
2.7 |
698.4 |
706.7 |
1.2 |
|
Passenger Trip Length*** |
1,085.5 |
1,094.4 |
0.8 |
1,075.7 |
1,079.8 |
0.4 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market and Segment
*Change in load factor points
**The average non-stop distance flown per departure in miles
*** The average distance flown per passenger in miles
Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
- more –
Table 2. Total System (Domestic and International) Scheduled Enplanements on U.S. Carriers
Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)
|
|
2005 |
2006 |
2005-2006 Pct. Change |
2007 |
2006-2007 Pct. Change |
|
|
January |
54.4 |
55.6 |
2.1 |
57.1 |
2.8 |
|
|
February |
52.9 |
53.4 |
0.9 |
54.1 |
1.4 |
|
|
March |
66.1 |
65.8 |
-0.4 |
67.2 |
2.0 |
|
|
April |
61.6 |
63.2 |
2.6 |
64.9 |
2.7 |
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|
May |
64.2 |
64.5 |
0.4 |
66.8 |
3.6 |
|
|
June |
67.1 |
67.2 |
0.1 |
69.5 |
3.4 |
|
|
July |
70.6 |
69.5 |
-1.5 |
72.2 |
3.8 |
|
|
August |
66.8 |
66.5 |
-0.5 |
71.1 |
7.0 |
|
|
September |
56.8 |
56.4 |
-0.7 |
59.2 |
4.9 |
|
|
October |
59.9 |
61.6 |
2.9 |
|
|
|
|
November |
58.7 |
60.3 |
2.7 |
|
|
|
|
December |
59.5 |
60.7 |
2.1 |
|
|
|
|
9- Mo Total |
560.5 |
562.0 |
0.3 |
582.0 |
3.6 |
|
|
Yr. Total |
738.6 |
744.7 |
0.8 |
|
|
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market
Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Table 3. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by January-September 2007 System* Scheduled Enplanements
Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)
|
Jan-Sept 2007 Rank |
Carrier |
Jan-Sept 2007 Enplaned Passengers |
Jan-Sept 2006 Rank |
Jan-Sept 2006 Enplaned Passengers |
Pct. Change 2006-2007 |
|
|
1 |
Southwest |
77.035 |
2 |
72.203 |
6.7 |
|
|
2 |
American |
74.076 |
1 |
74.526 |
-0.6 |
|
|
3 |
Delta |
55.433 |
3 |
55.703 |
-0.5 |
|
|
4 |
United |
52.329 |
4 |
52.580 |
-0.5 |
|
|
5 |
Northwest |
40.938 |
5 |
41.242 |
-0.7 |
|
|
6 |
Continental |
37.138 |
6 |
35.188 |
5.5 |
|
|
7 |
US Airways |
28.636 |
7 |
27.494 |
4.2 |
|
|
8 |
AirTran |
17.814 |
9 |
15.023 |
18.6 |
|
|
9 |
Sky West |
16.672 |
10 |
14.582 |
14.3 |
|
|
10 |
JetBlue |
16.136 |
12 |
13.593 |
18.7 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market
* System equals domestic plus international
Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
- more -
Table 4. Top 10 U.S. Airlines, ranked by September 2007 System* Scheduled Enplanements
Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)
|
Sept 2007 Rank |
Carrier |
Sept 2007 Enplaned Passengers |
Sept 2006 Rank |
Sept 2006 Enplaned Passengers |
Pct. Change 2006-2007 |
|
|
1 |
Southwest |
7.979 |
1 |
7.459 |
7.0 |
|
|
2 |
American |
7.519 |
2 |
7.262 |
3.5 |
|
|
3 |
Delta |
5.580 |
3 |
5.432 |
2.7 |
|
|
4 |
United |
5.257 |
4 |
5.418 |
-3.0 |
|
|
5 |
Northwest |
4.162 |
5 |
4.319 |
-3.6 |
|
|
6 |
Continental |
3.607 |
6 |
3.425 |
5.3 |
|
|
7 |
US Airways |
3.038 |
7 |
2.609 |
16.4 |
|
|
8 |
Sky West |
1.810 |
8 |
1.597 |
13.3 |
|
|
9 |
AirTran |
1.728 |
11 |
1.377 |
25.5 |
|
|
10 |
JetBlue |
1.512 |
10 |
1.486 |
1.8 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Market
* System equals domestic plus international
Note: Percent changes based on numbers prior to rounding.
Table 5. Top 10 U.S. Airports, ranked by January-September 2007 System* Scheduled Enplanements
Passenger numbers in millions (000,000)
|
Jan-Sept 2007 Rank |
Airport |
Jan-Sept 2007 Enplaned Passengers |
Jan-Sept 2006 Rank |
Jan-Sept 2006 Enplaned Passengers |
Pct. Change 2006-2007 |
|
|
1 |
Atlanta |
32.022 |
1 |
30.513 |
4.9 |
|
|
2 |
Chicago O'Hare |
25.994 |
2 |
26.082 |
-0.3 |
|
|
3 |
Dallas-Ft. Worth |
21.084 |
3 |
21.284 |
-0.9 |
|
|
4 |
Denver |
18.086 |
5 |
17.197 |
5.2 |
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5 |
Los Angeles |
18.021 |
4 |
17.419 |
3.5 |
|
|
6 |
Las Vegas |
16.093 |
6 |
15.681 |
2.6 |
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|
7 |
Phoenix |
15.615 |
7 |
15.354 |
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