Chicago Airport System traffic going sideways

Chicago O'Hare handled 5.9 million passenger last month, down 8.7% year-on-year - a level it has been for much of the past year. Cargo volumes were down 25.1% - certainly not as bad as the 35% declines between Dec-2008 and Feb-2009 - but hardly a ringing endorsement of an underlying economic recovery. Aircraft movements at O'Hare were down 8.4% to 69,800.

Chicago O'Hare Airport passenger number growth and cargo volume growth: Jul-08 to Jun-09

Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & company report

Across town, Midway is showing some better signs. Passenger numbers were down just 2.8% last month to 1.6 million, while cargo volumes were up sharply off a very small base, to 2,018 tonnes. Interestingly, aircraft movements at Midway were down by 7.1% last month to 21,545, suggesting airline load factors are improving.

Chicago Midway Airport passenger number growth and cargo volume growth: Jul-08 to Jun-09

Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & company report

Outlook: Consumers dropping the ball

Wall Street shrugged off further bad news about US consumer sentiment yesterday, preferring to focus on positive signs in earnings reports. Consumer confidence rebounded strongly in late Spring, but has faded in the past two months.

According to The Conference Board's Consumer Research Centre Director, Lynn Franco, "more consumers are pessimistic about their income expectations, which does not bode well for spending in the months ahead."

A drop off in consumer spending will be of considerable concern to airlines and airport operators like Chicago.