U.S. airlines experience 12 consecutive months of revenue growth

U.S. airlines experience 12 consecutive months of revenue growth

2011-01-19 14:23:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) - The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) on Tuesday reported the 12th consecutive month of revenue growth in U.S. air traffic, representing the first year since 2006 where spending rose every month.

ATA, the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, reported that passenger revenue, based on a sample group of carriers, rose 9 percent last December compared to the same month in 2009, to finish the year with revenue growth in every month.

In addition, the report showed that files flown by paying passengers rose 3 percent while the average price to fly one mile rose 6 percent. Passenger revenue improved 6 percent domestically and 16 percent in international markets, led by a 32 percent jump in spending on trans-Pacific and intra-Asia travel.

"These revenue results reflect ongoing strengthening in demand for travel by air as we enter 2011," said ATA Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich. "International markets continue to lead the way for growth in both passenger and cargo transportation."

The report also sampled cargo traffic in U.S. airlines, which saw a 4 percent rise year over year (down 1 percent domestically but up 8 percent internationally) in November 2010, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles. December 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. ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.

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