BTS: June 2012 Airline System Traffic Up 0.6 Percent from June 2011

Friday, September 21, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that U.S. airlines carried 66.6 million scheduled domestic and international passengers in June 2012, 0.2 percent more domestic passengers and 2.8 percent more international passengers than in June 2011. These changes resulted in a systemwide increase of 0.6 percent in passengers from June 2011 (Tables 1, 7, 13). The June 2012 passenger total was 2.5 percent above that of two years ago in June 2010 (Table 2).

U.S. airlines carried 363.8 million total system passengers during the first six months of 2012, up 1.6 percent from the same period in 2011 (Table 2). Domestically, they carried 317.0 million passengers, up 1.5 percent from 2011 (Table 8). Internationally, they carried 46.8 million passengers, up 2.2 percent from 2011 (Table 14). See Tables 2, 8 and 14 of Air Traffic Press Releases for previous year numbers.

Additional traffic numbers can be found on the BTS website in the Airlines and Airports box. Click on a link in the column on the right. For more historical numbers, see Traffic on the BTS website.

Load Factor and Capacity

Passenger load factors for domestic, international and system passenger traffic were at record levels in the month of June (Tables 1, 7, 13). Domestic capacity, measured by available seat-miles, was flat in June 2012 compared to June 2011. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased by 0.8 percent (Table 7). The international load factor in June increased as airlines did not grow capacity while RPMs increased by 2.1 percent (Table 13). Systemwide capacity was unchanged compared to a 1.2 percent increase in RPMs (Table 1). See Tables 1, 7 and 13 of Air Traffic Press Releases for previous year numbers.

Top Airlines

Monthly: In June, Southwest Airlines carried more total system and domestic passengers than any other U.S. airline (Tables 4, 10). United Airlines, following its merger with Continental Airlines, carried the most international passengers (Table 16). The top 10 US airlines carried 82.6 percent of systemwide passengers, an increase from the 75.6 percent carried by the top 10 U.S. airlines in June 2011.

Year-to-date: During the first six months of 2012, Southwest Airlines, following its merger with AirTran, carried more total system and domestic passengers than any other U.S. airline (Tables 3, 9). United, following its merger with Continental, carried the most international passengers (Table 15). The top 10 US airlines carried 81.0 percent of systemwide passengers, an increase from the 75.6 percent carried by the top 10 airlines during the first six months of 2011.

Southwest and AirTran began reporting jointly as Southwest in April 2012. Numbers reported as Southwest in this release for January-March 2012 and for previous years do not include AirTran’s numbers.

United and Continental began reporting jointly as United in January 2012. Numbers reported as United in this release for previous years do not include Continental’s numbers.

ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines began reporting jointly as ExpressJet in January 2012. Numbers reported as ExpressJet in this release for previous years do not include Atlantic Southeast’s numbers.

Top Airports

Monthly: In June, more total system and domestic passengers boarded planes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport (Tables 6, 12); and more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport (Table 18).

Year-to-date: During the first six months of 2012, more total system and domestic passengers boarded planes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson than at any other U.S. airport (Tables 5 and 11); and more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami than at any other U.S. airport (Table 17).