2010 First Year since 2006 Where Spending Rose Every Month

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today reported that passenger revenue,(1) based on a sample group of carriers,(2) rose 9 percent in December 2010 compared to the same month in 2009, marking the 12th consecutive month of revenue growth. Miles flown by paying passengers(3) rose 3 percent while the average price to fly one mile rose 6 percent. Passenger revenue(1) 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."

A sample of U.S. airlines(4) saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 4 percent year over year (down 1 percent domestically but up 8 percent internationally) in November 2010. December 2010 cargo data is not yet available.

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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. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesassn.

(1)As defined by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, "revenues from the air transportation of passengers" in scheduled air service, not including amounts paid to change tickets, transport baggage or perform other types of ancillary services.

(2)Based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Airways, including data for Air Midwest, Air Wisconsin, Allegheny, American Eagle, Atlantic Coast, Atlantic Southeast, Chautauqua, Comair, Continental Express, Executive, Freedom, Horizon, Mesa, Mesaba, MidAtlantic, Piedmont, Pinnacle, PSA, Shuttle America, SkyWest and Trans States. Data for all reporting U.S. airlines is available on a time-lagged basis from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.bts.gov).

(3) Previously, ATA monthly press releases cited the number of passengers; to align more closely with the per-mile price statistics, ATA is now reporting traffic on a total mileage basis.

(4) Based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, FedEx, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, United, UPS and US Airways. Data for all reporting U.S. airlines is available on a time-lagged basis from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.bts.gov).

SOURCE Air Transport Association

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