Tue, Jun 23, 2009
H1N1 Reportedly Exacerbates Recessionary Toll on Air Travel
Demand
ATA is reporting that passenger revenue fell 26 percent in May
2009 versus the same month in 2008 – the seventh consecutive
month in which passenger revenue has fallen from the prior
year.
The number of passengers traveling on US airlines in May fell
9.5 percent while the average price to fly one mile fell 17.6
percent. Revenue declines extended beyond the mainland United
States to the trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and Latin markets. May
results also reflect the impact of the H1N1 (swine) influenza
outbreak. Compounding the softening demand for passenger travel, US
airlines saw cargo traffic – as measured by revenue ton miles
– decline 22 percent year over year in April 2009, marking
the ninth consecutive month of declining cargo traffic. Notably,
cargo traffic in the Pacific region fell 26 percent. May 2009 cargo
data is not yet available.
“In May, the H1N1 influenza outbreak compounded an already
weak demand situation, negatively impacting industry cash flow and
forcing a closer look at current levels of flying,” said ATA
President and CEO James C. May (pictured below). Annually,
commercial aviation helps drive $1.1 trillion in U.S. economic
activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. On a daily basis, U.S.
airlines operate nearly 30,000 flights in 77 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.
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