ATA Reports Double-Digit Increases in May Passenger Revenue, April Cargo Traffic

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today reported that passenger revenue, based on a sample group of carriers,¹ rose 21 percent in May 2010 versus the same month in 2009, marking the fifth consecutive month of revenue growth.

Approximately 2 percent more passengers traveled on U.S. airlines¹ in May, while the average price to fly one mile rose 17 percent. International passenger revenue rose 36 percent, led by a 51 percent gain in trans-Pacific markets.

“These results reflect encouraging signs of the nation’s economic recovery from the very deep hole of a year ago,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May.

U.S. airlines² saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 17 percent year over year (8 percent domestically and 25 percent internationally) in April 2010, driven by increased international trade. May 2010 cargo data is not yet available.

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. On a daily basis, U.S. airlines operate approximately 25,000 flights in 80 countries, using more than 6,000 aircraft to carry an average of two million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo.

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional industry information, visit www.airlines.org.

References

1. Based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Airways; also includes data for Air Midwest, Air Wisconsin, Allegheny, American Eagle, Atlantic Coast, Atlantic Southeast, Chautauqua, Comair, Continental Express, Executive, Freedom, Horizon, Mesa, Mesaba, MidAtlantic, Piedmont, Pinnacle, PSA, Shuttle America, SkyWest and Trans States.
2. Based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, FedEx, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, United, UPS and US Airways.