ATA Reports Tenth Consecutive Month of Revenue Growth

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2010 – The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today reported that passenger revenue, based on a sample group of carriers, rose 18 percent in October 2010 compared to the same month in 2009, marking the tenth consecutive month of revenue growth. Miles flown by paying passengers rose more than 7 percent while the average price to fly one mile rose 10 percent. Passenger revenue1 improved 12.5 percent domestically and 31 percent in international markets.

“These results highlight the importance of international markets to air travelers and shippers, as the global economy drives up transportation spending to and from the United States,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “The industry remains hopeful that the nation’s economic recovery will continue in the months ahead.”

A sample of U.S. airlines saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 8 percent year over year (1 percent domestically and 13 percent internationally) in September 2010. October 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.