US DOT: May 2012 Airline System Traffic Down 0.3 Percent from May 2011

Thursday, August 23, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that U.S. airlines carried 63.7 million scheduled domestic and international passengers in May 2012, 0.4 percent fewer domestic passengers and 0.7 percent more international passengers than in May 2011. These changes resulted in a systemwide decrease of 0.3 percent in passengers from May 2011, the first year-to-year decline since November 2011 (Tables 1, 7, 13). The May 2012 passenger total was 3.6 percent above that of two years ago in May 2010 (Table 2).

U.S. airlines carried 297.2 million total system passengers during the first five months of 2012, up 1.9 percent from the same period in 2011 (Table 2). Domestically, they carried 259.1 million passengers, up 1.8 percent from 2011 (Table 8). Internationally, they carried 38.1 million passengers, up 2.1 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

The first four months of 2012 continued 2011’s trend of all-time high system and domestic load factors, with an international load factor that declined from the record high set in 2010. The trend changed in May when year-to-year changes in system and domestic passengers and capacity resulted in load factors that were unchanged from May 2011. The international load factor from January through May 2012 remained below that for the same period in 2010 (Tables 1, 7, 13). Domestic capacity, measured by available seat-miles, increased 0.2 percent in May 2012 compared to May 2011. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased by 0.1 percent (Table 7). The international load factor in May increased as airlines increased capacity by 1.2 percent while RPMs increased by 1.4 percent (Table 13). Systemwide capacity was up 0.5 percent compared to a 0.5 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 May, Southwest Airlines carried more total system passengers than any other U.S. airline (Table 4). Southwest Airlines carried the most domestic passengers (Table 10). United Airlines, following its merger with Continental Airlines, carried the most international passengers (Table 16). The top 10 US airlines carried 82.4 percent of systemwide passengers, an increase from the 70.0 percent in May 2011.

Year-to-date: During the first five months of 2012, Southwest Airlines, following its merger with AirTran, carried more total system passengers than any other U.S. airline (Table 3). Southwest carried the most domestic passengers (Table 9). United, following its merger with Continental, carried the most international passengers (Table 15). The top 10 US airlines carried 80.6 percent of systemwide passengers, an increase from the 70.3 percent during the first five months of 2010.

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 May, 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 five 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).