Busy day at LGA. (Photo by Ron Peel)
U.S. airline passenger revenue, based on a sample group of carriers, rose 25 percent in June compared to the same month in 2009, marking the sixth consecutive month of revenue growth, Air Transport Association of America (ATA) said Wednesday.
For the 12 months ending June, passenger revenue was approximately 0.5 percent greater than calendar year 2000 levels. In addition, approximately 1.4 percent more passengers traveled on U.S. airlines in June while the average price to fly one mile rose 20 percent. International passenger revenue rose 38 percent, led by a 58 percent gain in trans-Pacific markets.
U.S. airlines saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 22 percent year over year (7 percent domestically and 35 percent internationally) this past May, driven by increased international trade.
“It is clear from these positive results that the recovering U.S. economy is enabling airlines to dig out from the very deep hole of a year ago,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May.
Every year, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. On a daily basis, U.S. airlines operate approximately 25,000 flights in 80 countries, using more than 6,000 aircraft to carry an average of two million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo.
