Wed, Jun 24, 2009
7th Consecutive Month Of Passenger Decline
The Air Transport
Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for
the leading U.S. airlines, today reported that passenger revenue
fell 26 percent in May 2009 versus the same month in 2008 - the
seventh consecutive month in which passenger revenue has fallen
from the prior year.
The number of passengers traveling on U.S. airlines in May fell
9.5 percent while the average price to fly one mile fell 17.6
percent. Revenue declines extended beyond the mainland United
States to the trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and Latin markets. May
results also reflect the impact of the H1N1 (swine) influenza
outbreak.
Compounding the softening demand for passenger travel, U.S.
airlines saw cargo traffic - as measured by revenue ton miles -
decline 22 percent year over year in April 2009, marking the ninth
consecutive month of declining cargo traffic. Notably, cargo
traffic in the Pacific region fell 26 percent. May 2009 cargo data
is not yet available.
"In May, the H1N1 influenza outbreak compounded an already weak
demand situation, negatively impacting industry cash flow and
forcing a closer look at current levels of flying," said ATA
President and CEO James C. May.
Annually, commercial aviation helps drive $1.1 trillion in U.S.
economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. On a daily
basis, U.S. airlines operate nearly 30,000 flights in 77 countries,
using more than 6,000 aircraft to carry an average of two million
passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo.
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