DOT Reports 3.9 Percent Increase in May Traffic for U.S. Airlines

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported in a release of preliminary data that U.S. airlines carried 63.8 million scheduled domestic and international passengers in May 2011, a 3.9 percent increase from May 2010. The May 2011 passenger total was also 6.9 percent above that of two years ago in May 2009 but remained 3.3 percent below the early recession level of May 2008.

BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, also reported that U.S. airlines carried 4 percent more domestic passengers in May 2011 than in May 2010. The number of international passengers on U.S. carriers in May 2011 increased 3.2 percent over May 2010. The May 2011 load factors of 83.6 percent systemwide and 84.5 percent domestic were the highest recorded for any May. For more information, visit www.dot.gov or www.bts.gov.