US international air passenger traffic up almost four percent

WASHINGTON, DC – International air traffic to/from the U.S. totaled 72.8 million passengers through May 2013, an almost four percent increase over the May 2012 year-to-date period. U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC – International air traffic to/from the U.S. totaled 72.8 million passengers through May 2013, an almost four percent increase over the May 2012 year-to-date period. U.S. citizen travel (31.4 million) was up two percent and comprised 43 percent of all air traffic. However, non-U.S. citizen air travelers (41.3 million) increased by five percent raising their market share to 57 percent.

U.S. airlines carried 39.1 million passengers, up two percent, however their share slipped to 54 percent. Foreign flags carried 33.6 million passengers, up five percent from same period 2012.

International Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.
U.S. Citizens 31.428 2% 43% -1
Non-U.S. Citizens 41.326 5% 57% +1

U.S. Flag Carriers (2) 39.115 2% 54% -1
Foreign Flag Carriers 33.639 5% 46% +1

The following, overseas, Canada and Mexico regions are โ€˜breakoutsโ€™ of international:

Overseas air traffic accounted for 53.1 million passengers, 73 percent of all international, and grew by three percent. U.S. citizen travel (23.5 million) was flat and comprised 44 percent of overseas air traffic. Non-U.S. citizen air travelers (29.6 million) increased by five percent increasing their market share to 56 percent.

U.S. airlines carried 27.4 million passengers, up one percent, their share holding at 52 percent. Foreign flags carried 25.7 million passengers, up five percent from May 2012 YTD.

Overseas Regions Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.
U.S. Citizens 23.481 0% 44% -2
Non-U.S. Citizens 29.606 5% 56% +2

U.S. Flag Carriers 27.380 1% 52% 0
Foreign Flag Carriers 25.708 5% 48% 0

Overseas regions performed as follows:

Overseas Regions Passengers (mlns) % of all
International % Change
2013 / 2012 YTD

Europe 19.224 26% 0.2%
Asia 11.169 15% 4.4%
Caribbean 8.022 11% 0.7%
South America 5.841 8% 8.4%
Central America 3.985 5% 4.9%
Middle East 2.607 4% 10.0%
Oceania 1.705 2% 7.5%
Africa 0.534 1% -0.2%

North American markets accounted for 27 percent of U.S. international air traffic flows.

Canadian air traffic accounted for 10.7 million passengers, 15 percent of all international traffic, and increased by four percent. U.S. citizen travel (2.2 million) increased five percent and comprised 21 percent of air traffic. Canadian, and other foreign national citizen air travelers transiting through Canada (8.5 million), increased by four percent. Market share remained unchanged at 79 percent.

U.S. flags carried 4.7 million passengers, up three percent from last year, and their share slipped to 43 percent. Foreign flags carried 6.1 million passengers, up five percent.

Canada Region Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.

U.S. Citizens 2.238 5% 21% 0
Non-U.S. Citizens 8.509 4% 79% 0

U.S. Flag Carriers 4.652 3% 43% -1
Foreign Flag Carriers 6.094 5% 57% +1

Mexico air traffic accounted for 8.9 million passengers, 12 percent of all international traffic, and was up six percent. U.S. citizen travel (5.7 million) increased six percent and comprised 64 percent of all air traffic. Mexicans, and other foreign national air travelers (3.2 million) transiting through Mexico, increased by six percent, holding market share at 36 percent.

U.S. flags carried 7.1 million passengers, up five percent from last year, and their share slipped from 80 to 79 percent. Foreign flags carried 1.8 million passengers, up 11 percent increasing share to 21 percent.

Mexican Region Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.

U.S. Citizens 5.709 6% 64% 0
Non-U.S. Citizens 3.211 6% 36% 0

U.S. Flag Carriers 7.083 5% 79% -1
Foreign Flag Carriers 1.837 11% 21% +1

May 2013 Year-to-Date

Top 10 Foreign Airports (Passenger Traffic to/From U.S.):
28.7 million Passengers, 39% of Total International Air Traffic

Passengers (millions) % Chg y-o-y
1. London Heathrow (LHR) 5.323 1%
2. Toronto (YYZ) 4.512 8%
3. Tokyo Narita (NRT) 3.833 3%
4. Cancun (CUN) 2.851 7%
5. Frankfurt (FRT) 2.420 2%
6. Mexico City (MEX) 2.215 9%
7. Paris/de Gaulle (CDG) 2.191 -1%
8. Incheon (ICT) 1.976 6%
9. Vancouver (YVR) 1.744 -3%
10. Amsterdam (AMS) 1.656 4%

Top 10 U.S. Airports (Passenger Traffic to/From Foreign Airports):
50.2 million Passengers, 69% of Total Air Traffic

Passengers (millions) % Chg y-o-y
1. New York (JFK) 9.912 4%
2. Miami (MIA) 8.211 3%
3. Los Angeles (LAX) 6.863 2%
4. Newark (EWR) 4.601 0%
5. Chicago (ORD) 4.137 1%
6. Atlanta (ATL) 4.028 3%
7. San Francisco (SFO) 3.665 2%
8. Houston (IAH) 3.620 2%
9. Washington Dulles (IAD) 2.594 4%
10. Dallas-Ft Worth (DFW) 2.530 10%

Top 10 Airlines(2) Serving U.S. International Non-Stop Markets:
44.6 million Passengers, 61% of Total Air Traffic

Passengers (millions) % Chg y-o-y
1. United Airlines 11.888 2%
2. American Airlines 8.869 0%
3. Delta Air Lines 8.025 4%
4. US Airways 3.360 2%
5. Air Canada 2.915 3%
6. British Airways 2.653 3%
7. Lufthansa 2.029 5%
8. West Jet 1.851 10%
9. Jet Blue Airways 1.830 10%
10. Korean Air Lines 1.223 4%

Monthly % changes:

January 2013 traffic was up 3.5 percent, February, up 1.9 percent and March, up 7.0 percent.

(Note: Easter/Passover was โ€˜earlierโ€™ this year (March 31) vs. April 8, 2012) and April, up 0.7%.
May, up 4.2 percent.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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