ATA Reports Growth As Economy Recovers

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) is reporting that passenger revenue, based on a sample group of carriers, rose 21 percent in May 2010 versus the same month in 2009. This marks the fifth consecutive month of revenue growth.

Approximately 2 percent more passengers traveled on U.S. airlines in May, while the average price to fly one mile rose 17 percent. International passenger revenue rose 36 percent, led by a 51 percent gain in transpacific markets.

“These results reflect encouraging signs of the nation’s economic recovery from the very deep hole of a year ago,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May.

U.S. airlines also saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 17 percent year over year (8 percent domestically and 25 percent internationally) in April 2010, driven by increased international trade. May 2010 cargo data is not yet available.

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.

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