US airline uptick could finally be here
Just as airline CEOs indicated during the fourth quarter analyst calls, the industry may finally be seeing the turnaround, reflected by new statistics from the Air Transport Association (ATA). Reversing a 14-month trend, US airlines saw January passenger revenue rise 1.4% in January compared to Jan-2009, according to the ATA. However, most managers remained cautious about the year.
- US airlines experienced a 1.4% increase in passenger revenue in January 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, indicating a potential recovery in air travel demand.
- Despite the increase in passenger revenue, the number of passengers flown by US airlines decreased by 0.4% in January 2010.
- The average price to fly one mile increased by 0.6% in January 2010, marking the first increase since November 2008.
- The trans-Atlantic market showed the most progress with a 3.4% increase in passenger unit revenue.
- Cargo traffic for US airlines improved, with cargo ton miles rising 17% year-on-year in December 2009.
- Domestic cargo traffic increased by 12% while international cargo traffic rose by 23% in December 2009.
"The modest uptick in passenger revenue and the solid increase in cargo volumes are promising signs that air-transport demand may be at the beginning of a long-awaited recovery," said ATA President and CEO James May.
The news was especially welcome, given the fact that US airlines flew 0.4% fewer passengers during Jan-2010. ATA also reported that the average price to fly one mile increased 0.6%, the first increase since Nov-2008. The trans-Atlantic market showed the most progress with a passenger unit revenue increase of 3.4%.
ATA yields by region: Jan-2009 to Jan-2010
|
Yield (¢ per Mile)
|
DOMESTIC* |
ATLANTIC |
LATIN |
PACIFIC |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
¢/RPM |
% Change |
¢/RPM |
% Change |
¢/RPM |
% Change |
¢/RPM |
% Change |
|
|
Jan-2009 |
14.00 |
(3.5) |
11.98 |
(7.5) |
14.96 |
2.1 |
12.16 |
(1.4) |
|
Feb-2009 |
13.51 |
(8.8) |
11.54 |
(10.7) |
13.34 |
(2.3) |
11.45 |
(2.9) |
|
Mar-2009 |
13.34 |
(14.0) |
10.53 |
(14.4) |
12.73 |
(10.4) |
11.40 |
(4.5) |
|
Apr-2009 |
13.43 |
(10.7) |
9.93 |
(21.9) |
12.77 |
(8.0) |
10.28 |
(17.3) |
|
May-2009 |
12.71 |
(16.2) |
9.94 |
(24.0) |
11.95 |
(16.6) |
10.26 |
(17.9) |
|
Jun-2009 |
12.93 |
(18.9) |
10.82 |
(25.2) |
11.91 |
(21.8) |
9.64 |
(25.5) |
|
Jul-2009 |
13.20 |
(14.7) |
11.12 |
(22.8) |
12.19 |
(21.5) |
9.70 |
(27.5) |
|
Aug-2009 |
13.14 |
(14.0) |
10.70 |
(24.3) |
12.62 |
(19.8) |
11.25 |
(24.4) |
|
Sep-2009 |
13.26 |
(16.6) |
10.82 |
(22.5) |
12.47 |
(21.4) |
10.96 |
(19.7) |
|
Oct-2009 |
13.69 |
(12.5) |
11.63 |
(14.4) |
12.80 |
(17.3) |
10.69 |
(17.8) |
|
Nov-2009 |
14.47 |
(4.6) |
12.07 |
(8.2) |
13.36 |
(11.5) |
10.88 |
(14.9) |
|
Dec-2009 |
14.11 |
(1.9) |
11.81 |
2.3 |
14.44 |
(6.9) |
11.04 |
(8.4) |
|
2009 YTD |
13.45 |
(11.8) |
11.00 |
(17.8) |
13.02 |
(12.6) |
10.80 |
(15.8) |
| Jan-2010 | 14.15 | 1.1 | 12.50 | 4.4 | 14.20 | (5.1) | 11.96 | (1.6) |
Cargo also improving
Cargo was up, continuing a trend first seen last Summer after the industry saw the cargo side fall into its deepest abyss in aviation history. For the full year 2009, cargo traffic declined 11% compared to 2008. The decline in cargo traffic from 2008 to 2009 was the largest on record, eclipsing the decline observed from 2000 to 2001. US airlines saw cargo ton miles rise 17% year-on-year in Dec-2009, said ATA, adding that domestic cargo traffic rose 12%, while international rose 23%. It cited increased international trade, noting January cargo was not yet available.