Traffic Remains Below 2002 Levels; Rate of Decline Slows in All Markets

The Air Transport Association tells us that systemwide airline traffic improved modestly for the week ending Sunday, April 27 from the week ending April 20, but remained down 2.1 percent from 2002 levels. "Traffic" in the most-recent week benefited substantially from travelers returning from the Easter holiday. Domestic traffic posted its first year-over-year improvement since the Department of Homeland Security raised the terrorism alert to Code Orange on February 7.

Latin American traffic posted its strongest week of the year with an increase of 15.3 percent. Traffic over the Atlantic was down 14.8 percent, but this was a significant improvement over a 25.8 percent decline posted the previous week. Pacific traffic continued to be impacted by the SARS outbreak and was down 37.9 percent, a slight improvement over a decline of 39.6 percent the previous week.

"Traffic is beginning to come back following the end of the war in Iraq, but the SARS outbreak in Asia continues to significantly impact travel over the Pacific," said ATA President and CEO James C. May. "The move from orange to yellow alert status helped traffic improve. The airline industry is hopeful that further traffic increases will be seen in coming weeks."

FMI: www.airlines.org