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Airline Traffic Data

Legacy ID
321
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On
Significant Regulatory Guidance
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U.S. Airline August 2020 Passengers Decreased 70% from August 2019 but Rose 2% from July 2020 (Preliminary)

U.S. airlines carried 70% fewer scheduled service passengers in August 2020 than in August 2019, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 21 airlines that carry more than 90% of the passengers. Despite the large annual drop from pre-pandemic numbers a year earlier (see graphic), when compared to the previous month U.S. airlines carried 2% more passengers in August 2020 than in July 2020.

 

The 70% decline from August 2019 was the smallest annual decrease since March.

U.S. International Air Cargo Rose Slightly in July 2020 from July 2019 (Preliminary)

 

U.S. and foreign airlines carried 0.4% more cargo by weight between the U.S. and foreign points in July 2020 than in July 2019, including a 19% rise in cargo between the U.S. and Asia, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by large air carriers. July’s 0.4% increase followed year-over-year decreases in March (down 17%), April (down 16%), May (down 14%) and June (down 10%).

Annual Rise in U.S. Airlines July Cargo (13%) Largest Increase in a Decade

U.S. airlines carried almost 13% more cargo by weight in July 2020 (preliminary) than in July 2019, the largest annual increase since 2010. The rise was fueled by a gain of almost 16% in domestic cargo while the 4.5% rise in international cargo was the first annual gain since March 2019, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 15 of the leading cargo airlines.

 

The 15 airlines carry 97% of the total cargo by weight on U.S. airlines. Cargo data consists of freight and mail carried within the U.S. and between the U.S. and foreign points.

June 2020 U.S. Airline Traffic Data

U.S. airlines carried 16.5 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in June 2020, unadjusted, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS), down 80.3% from June 2019.

U.S. Airline July 2020 Passengers Decrease 73% from July 2019 but Rise 30% from June 2020 (Preliminary)

U.S. airlines carried 73% fewer scheduled service passengers in July 2020 than in July 2019, according to preliminary data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 18 airlines that carry more than 90% of the passengers. Despite the large annual drop from pre-pandemic numbers a year earlier (see graphic), when compared to the previous month U.S. airlines carried 30% more passengers in July 2020 than in June 2020.