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4th-Quarter Domestic Air Fares Rose 10% from 4th Quarter 2010 — Top 100 Airports: Highest Fares at Cincinnati, Lowest Fares at Atlantic City
4th-Quarter Domestic Air Fares Rose 10% from 4th Quarter 2010 — Top 100 Airports: Highest Fares at Cincinnati, Lowest Fares at Atlantic City
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Average domestic air fares rose to $368 in the fourth quarter of 2011, up 10 percent from the average fare of $335 in the fourth quarter of 2010 (Table 1), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Cincinnati had the highest average fare, $502, while Atlantic City, NJ, had the lowest, $189 (Table 3).
Fourth-quarter fares increased 2.1 percent from the third quarter (Table 2). Quarter-to-quarter changes may be affected by seasonal factors.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares” or a few abnormally high reported fares.
When not adjusted for inflation, the $368 fourth-quarter 2011 average fares were up 6.6 percent from the previous fourth-quarter high of $345 in 2008. Unadjusted fourth-quarter fares dropped to $320 in 2009 during the recession. Fourth-quarter 2011 fares were up 15.2 percent from 2009, not adjusted for inflation. They were also up 23.9 percent from the post 9/11 low of $297 in 2004 (Table 6).
Fourth-quarter 2011 fares, not adjusted for inflation, were the second highest of any quarter, exceeded only by the high of $370 in the second quarter of 2011. Adjusted for inflation, fourth-quarter 2011 fares in 1995 dollars were $251, down 16.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2000, which, at $300, was the inflation-adjusted high for any fourth quarter since 1995 (Table 1). BTS air fare records begin in 1995. See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.
Average fares for the full year in 2011 were the highest on record at $364, up 8.3 percent from 2010. The 2011 fares were up 5.2 percent from 2008, which at $346 was previously the highest year on record since 1995, not adjusted for inflation. Adjusting for inflation in 1995 dollars, fares in 2011 averaged $247, up 4.9 percent from 2010 but down 17.6 percent from the inflation-adjusted high of $300 in 2000. See Annual Fares.
Passenger airlines collected 71.4 percent of their total revenue from passenger fares during the third quarter of 2011, the most recent quarter available (Table 1A).
State Transportation Statistics 2010
State Transportation Statistics 2010
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), today released State Transportation Statistics 2010 (STS) – a web-only reference guide to transportation data by state. The eighth annual STS consists of 112 tables of state data on infrastructure, safety, freight transportation, passenger travel, registered vehicles and vehicle-miles traveled, economy and finance, and energy and environment, plus a U.S. Fast Facts page.
North American Transportation Statistics: Almost 93 Million Personal Vehicles Entered the United States in 2010
North American Transportation Statistics: Almost 93 Million Personal Vehicles Entered the United States in 2010
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Almost 93 million personal vehicles entered the United States in 2010, 28.9 million from Canada and 64.0 million from Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). Additionally, 10.2 million trucks, 334,818 buses, and 33,790 trains entered the United States in 2010 .
Public Perceptions on Transportation Characteristics of Livable Communities
Public Perceptions on Transportation Characteristics of Livable Communities
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, today released Public Perceptions on Transportation Characteristics of Livable Communities, a special report presenting the findings of a 2009 survey asking participants the importance of different transportation features for their communities. The most important of the eight characteristics defined in the survey, supported by 94 percent of respondents, was major roads or highways, followed closely by adequate downtown parking, pedestrian-friendly downtown streets, safe sidewalks, and easy access to airports. Reliable long-distance bus or rail transportation, bike lanes, and local transit were found to be important by over two-thirds of respondents. BTS surveyed about 1,000 households for this report.
Long Tarmac Delays Dramatically Diminished During First Year of DOT’s Aviation Consumer Rule
Long Tarmac Delays Dramatically Diminished During First Year of DOT’s Aviation Consumer Rule
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
During the first 12 months after a new rule limiting airline tarmac delays went into effect, lengthy delays experienced by passengers aboard aircraft largely disappeared and only a minimal number of flights were canceled to avoid delays on the tarmac, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today.
See the DOT press release for Secretary Ray LaHood’s statement.
According to DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report, there were only 20 total tarmac delays of more than three hours reported from May 2010 through April 2011 by the airlines that file on-time performance data with DOT, compared to 693 reported from May 2009 through April 2010. April was the 12th full month of data since the new rule went into effect on April 29, 2010.
At the same time, the number of canceled flights with tarmac delays of more than two hours – those most likely to be canceled to avoid violating the rule – increased only slightly, from 336 between May 2009 and April 2010 to 387 between May 2010 and April 2011. These additional 51 cancellations compare to over 6 million flights operated by the reporting carriers in a given year.
The rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from allowing an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without providing an opportunity for passengers to deplane, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations. International flights of both U.S. and foreign carriers at U.S. airports will be subject to a four-hour tarmac delay limit beginning Aug. 23.
The monthly report also includes data on on-time performance, chronically delayed flights, flight cancellations, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department by the reporting carriers. In addition, the report contains information on reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.
Key Transportation Indicators: National Highway Construction Cost Index Added
Key Transportation Indicators: National Highway Construction Cost Index Added
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today expanded its Key Transportation Indicators with the addition of the National Highway Construction Cost Index, a measure of highway construction cost changes since 2003. According to the Federal Highway Administration index, prices related to highway expenditures in the eight-year period from 2003 to 2010 peaked in 2006 before declining, with prices in 2010 slightly above the 2003 level. The new tables bring the total number of transportation indicators tracked by BTS to 23. Indicators are drawn from BTS and other sources to provide timely, easily accessible information for the transportation community. BTS also updated tables that contain information on transportation and the economy, fuel prices, passenger and freight traffic, transportation costs to users, and system performance. Key Transportation Indicators are available at:http://www.bts.gov/publications/key_transportation_indicators/.
Airlines Collected Almost $5.7 Billion from Fees in 2010
Airlines Collected Almost $5.7 Billion from Fees in 2010
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
U.S. airlines collected almost $5.7 billion from baggage fees and reservation change fees in 2010, according to the airline financial data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The airlines received $3.4 billion from baggage fees and $2.3 billion from reservation change fees in 2010. These are the only fees paid by passengers that BTS can identify separately. All other fees paid by passengers are included in larger categories with other types of revenue.
Additional fourth-quarter 2010 data are not yet available.
Tsunami’s Impact on U.S. Trade and Transportation with Japan
Tsunami’s Impact on U.S. Trade and Transportation with Japan
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released Preliminary Observations of the Tsunami’s Impact on U.S. Trade and Transportation With Japan. The fact sheet examines the immediate impacts of the tsunami and possible longer-term disruptions. According to the report, the United States faces potential ramifications from the damage to Japan’s freight transportation system caused by the March earthquake and tsunami. During that time, the United States may face lower levels of both air and maritime imports in automobiles and parts, as well as fewer imports of high-end electronics and devices such as semiconductors, and specialty chemicals. The disruption of Japan’s transportation and distribution networks has already affected U.S. industrial supply chains, particularly automobile manufacturing and assembly plants.
2010 Passenger Airline Employment by Job Category
2010 Passenger Airline Employment by Job Category
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.9 percent more pilots and 1.1 percent more maintenance workers in 2010 than in 2009 while total industry jobs declined by 0.5 percent, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1).
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the six large network carriers employed 1.3 percent fewer pilots and 2.3 percent more maintenance workers in 2010 than in 2009. A separate group of the seven largest low-cost carriers employed 11.2 percent more pilots and 1.5 percent more maintenance workers from 2009 to 2010. The group of regional airlines employed 4.9 percent more pilots and 3.3 percent fewer maintenance workers from 2009 to 2010 (Table 1). Employment numbers for individual regional airlines can be found on the BTS website.
Alaska Airlines had the largest decrease in maintenance employees for the network airlines at 6.7 percent. US Airways had the largest decrease in pilot employees for the network airlines at 2.6 percent. Delta Air Lines’ employment increases reflect its merger with Northwest Airlines that became effective for reporting purposes in January 2010 (Table 2).
All the low-cost carriers added pilots from 2009 to 2010 while only Southwest and Spirit Airlines reduced maintenance employees for this period. Allegiant had the largest increase in maintenance employees at 51.0 percent. Virgin America had the largest increase in pilot employees at 43.6 percent (Table 3).
BTS Releases 2010 Airline Fee Data; Airlines Collected Almost $5.7 Billion from Fees in 2010
BTS Releases 2010 Airline Fee Data; Airlines Collected Almost $5.7 Billion from Fees in 2010
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
U.S. airlines collected almost $5.7 billion from baggage fees and reservation change fees in 2010, according to the airline financial data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
The airlines received $3.4 billion from baggage fees and $2.3 billion from reservation change fees in 2010. These are the only fees paid by passengers that BTS can identify separately. All other fees paid by passengers are included in larger categories with other types of revenue.
Additional fourth-quarter 2010 data are not yet available.
+ Baggage Fees by Airline
+ Reservation Cancellation/Change Fees by Airline
2010 Passenger Airline Employment by Job Category
2010 Passenger Airline Employment by Job Category
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.9 percent more pilots and 1.1 percent more maintenance workers in 2010 than in 2009 while total industry jobs declined by 0.5 percent, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1).
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the six large network carriers employed 1.3 percent fewer pilots and 2.3 percent more maintenance workers in 2010 than in 2009. A separate group of the seven largest low-cost carriers employed 11.2 percent more pilots and 1.5 percent more maintenance workers from 2009 to 2010. The group of regional airlines employed 4.9 percent more pilots and 3.3 percent fewer maintenance workers from 2009 to 2010 (Table 1). Employment numbers for individual regional airlines can be found on the BTS website.
Alaska Airlines had the largest decrease in maintenance employees for the network airlines at 6.7 percent. US Airways had the largest decrease in pilot employees for the network airlines at 2.6 percent. Delta Air Lines’ employment increases reflect its merger with Northwest Airlines that became effective for reporting purposes in January 2010 (Table 2).
All the low-cost carriers added pilots from 2009 to 2010 while only Southwest and Spirit Airlines reduced maintenance employees for this period. Allegiant had the largest increase in maintenance employees at 51.0 percent. Virgin America had the largest increase in pilot employees at 43.6 percent (Table 3).
2010 Border Crossing/Entry Data
2010 Border Crossing/Entry Data
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The number of truck crossings into the United States from Canada and Mexico was 10.2 million in 2010, 9.4 percent more than in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration. The truck-crossing numbers are included in the 2010 border-crossing data posted today on the BTS website that also includes numbers of incoming trains, buses, containers, personal vehicles, and pedestrians entering the United States through land ports and ferry crossings on the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico border. The database shows that 165.7 million people crossed into the U.S. from Mexico in personal vehicles or as pedestrians in 2010, a 9.1 percent decrease from 2009. Also, 57.2 million people entered the U.S. from Canada in personal vehicles or as pedestrians in 2010, a 6.1 percent increase from 2009. Border crossing/entry data from 1995 to 2010 can be found on the BTS website.
2010 Traffic Data for U.S Airlines and Foreign Airlines U.S. Flights: Total Passengers Up from 2009, Still Below 2008
2010 Traffic Data for U.S Airlines and Foreign Airlines U.S. Flights: Total Passengers Up from 2009, Still Below 2008
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported that 786.7 million scheduled passengers traveled on U.S. airlines and on foreign airlines serving the United States in 2010. This is a 2.1 percent increase from 2009 (Table 1). The 2010 passenger total still remained 3.2 percent below the level of 812.3 million in 2008 (Table 2).
BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, in a release of preliminary data, reported that U.S. airlines carried 2.4 percent more total system passengers in 2010 than in 2009. U.S. airlines carried 1.9 percent more domestic passengers in 2010 and 5.9 percent more international passengers than in 2009. Passengers to and from the United States on foreign carriers decreased 0.3 percent from 2009 (Table 1A).
This release includes data on U.S. carrier scheduled domestic and international service and foreign carrier scheduled international service to and from the United States . BTS regular monthly air traffic releases include data on U.S. carrier scheduled service only. For U.S. domestic service data for 2010, see the BTS December Air Traffic press release.
During the first six months of 2010, the number of passengers carried on U.S. airlines and on foreign airlines to and from the United States increased 1.6 percent from the same period in 2009. During the last six months, this increase was 2.6 percent (Table 2).
Top Airlines in 2010
Delta Air Lines, following its merger with Northwest Airlines, carried more total system passengers in 2010 than any other U.S. airline for the first time since 2001 (Table 3). Delta carried more international passengers to and from the United States in 2010 than any other U.S. or foreign carrier after American had carried the most for 20 consecutive years (Table 7).
Top Airports in 2010
More total system passengers boarded planes in 2010 at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport (Table 4); and more international passengers boarded planes at New York John F. Kennedy than at any other U.S. airport (Table 8).
For more information on U.S. carrier domestic operations, see the BTS December Air Traffic press release.
2010 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose from 2009, Remains Lower than 2008
2010 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Rose from 2009, Remains Lower than 2008
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Thursday, March 17, 2011 – Surface transportation trade between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico increased by 24.3 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, reaching $791 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 24.3 percent increase in trade was the largest year-to-year increase for the years covered by these data. NAFTA went into effect in 1994 (Table 1).
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that despite the increase from 2009 to 2010, the value of North American surface trade in 2010 remained below the levels of 2007 and 2008 (Table 1). Total North American surface transportation imports increased by 25.1 percent in 2010 from 2009, and exports increased by 23.3 percent during the same period (Table 2).
In 2010, 86.2 percent of U.S. merchandise trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land. Total North American surface transportation trade value in 2010 increased by 13.4 percent compared to 2005, and was up by 37.5 percent compared to 2000, a period of 10 years (Table 3).
The U.S. Rural Population and Scheduled Intercity Transportation in 2010: A Five-Year Decline in Transportation Access
The U.S. Rural Population and Scheduled Intercity Transportation in 2010: A Five-Year Decline in Transportation Access
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Between 2005 and 2010, 3.5 million rural residents lost access to scheduled intercity transportation, increasing the percent of rural residents without access to intercity transportation from 7 to 11 percent. In 2005, 5.4 million rural residents lacked access to intercity transportation, with that total increasing to 8.9 million rural residents in 2010. Of the 71.7 million rural residents retaining access in 2010, 3.7 million lost access to more than one intercity transportation mode during the 5-year period. (See table 2.)
These numbers update a 2005 analysis by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration. In 2005, BTS measured access to intercity transportation within rural America. At the time, BTS calculated that 93 percent of rural residents in the United States lived within the coverage area of at least one of the four intercity public transportation modes (air, bus, ferry, and rail). Since then, significant changes have occurred to the networks of several of the modes. These changes include, but are not limited to, network reductions made by Greyhound and the suspension of the New Orleans–Jacksonville route previously provided by Amtrak’s Sunset Limited.1 Using transportation facilities from the BTS Intermodal Passenger Connectivity Database (IPCD)2 and internal BTS files, this report shows:
- As of September 2010, 71.7 million (89 percent) of the 80.6 million rural residents in the United States lived within the coverage area of intercity air, bus, ferry, or rail transportation.
- An estimated 3.5 million rural residents lost intercity transportation access between 2005 and 2010. An additional 3.7 million, who still had intercity transportation service in 2010, lost access to at least one transportation mode during the 5-year period.
- Intercity bus transportation provided the greatest coverage across rural America in 2010, despite declining from 89 percent in 2005 to 78 percent in 2010. The percent of rural residents covered by air service remained unchanged (72 percent), while the percent covered by intercity rail declined from 42 to 40 percent of the rural population.
- In 2005 and 2010, all rural residents in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island had access to at least one intercity public transportation mode (air, bus, ferry, or rail). In contrast, less than 60 percent of rural residents in North Dakota had access to at least one mode in both of those years.
- Between 2005 and 2010, the largest decline in the number of rural residents with access to any intercity transportation occurred in Alabama, where 0.7 million rural residents (29 percent of the State rural population) lost access to intercity transportation.
Pocket Guide to Transportation 2011
Pocket Guide to Transportation 2011
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), has published the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2011 – a 50-page quick reference guide to informative transportation data.
Airline On-Time Performance Improves in 2010
Airline On-Time Performance Improves in 2010
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The on-time performance of the nation’s largest airlines improved in 2010 compared to the previous year, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), shows that the 18 largest carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.8 percent for January through December 2010, an improvement on 2009′s 79.5 percent on-time arrival rate. During December 2010, these carriers posted an on-time performance rate of 72.0 percent, equal to the 72.0 percent on-time rate recorded in December 2009, but down from November 2010′s 83.2 percent rate.
The monthly report also includes data on chronically delayed flights, lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department by the reporting carriers. In addition, the report contains information on airline bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
