US air traffic's faint pulse, but yields flatlining - ATA April traffic review

In Hollywood, when a patient is hooked up to a life support machine, the first sign of recovery is a dramatic upwards tick on the monitor. While the US airline industry is not terminal, it is certainly unwell. The latest traffic results for April from the US Air Transport Association (ATA) certainly represent the sharpest resurrection in the vital signs of the US market seen this year, and an early indication that the patient may one day leave the emergency room. But, by contrast, yield data for April would however suggest surgery is still required.