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Air Cargo Down 5% Between the U.S. and Foreign Points, June 2020 (Preliminary)

U.S. and foreign airlines carried 5% less cargo by weight between the U.S. and foreign points in June 2020 than in June 2019, despite a rise of almost 11% in cargo between the U.S. and Asia, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by large air carriers. June’s decline was smaller than year-over-year decreases in March (down 17%), April (down 16%) and May (down 14%).

May 2020 U.S. Airline Traffic Data

U.S. airlines carried 8.4 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in May 2020, unadjusted, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS), down 89.6% from May 2019.

Annual Rise in U.S. Airlines June Cargo (Over 9%) Largest Increase Since January 2018

U.S. airlines carried 9.4% more cargo by weight in June 2020 than in June 2019, the largest annual gain since January 2018 fueled by a gain of almost 14% in domestic cargo. A 3.6% decline in international cargo was the smallest annual loss since November 2019, according to preliminary data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 13 of the leading cargo airlines.

 

The 13 airlines carry more than 90% 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 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, rose 0.9% in June from May, rising for the second consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS). From June 2019 to June 2020, the index fell 7.6% compared to a rise of 1.2% from June 2018 to June 2019 and a rise of 8.7% from June 2017 to June 2018 (Tables 1, 2, and 2A).