U.S. PASSENGER AIRLINES TRAFFIC FALLS SLIGHTLY AFTER SEVEN CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF GROWTH
WASHINGTON - The United States U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that U.S. airlines’ August systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passenger enplanements fell 0.4 percent from July, falling to 71.3 million, seasonally-adjusted, after growing for seven consecutive months from December to July.
From July 2017 to August 2017 enplanements on domestic flights declined 0.4 percent while enplanements on U.S. international flights to and from the U.S. fell 0.3 percent resulting in a 0.4 systemwide decline. Some of the decline could be due to Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall in Texas on Aug. 25.
In one year, from August 2016 to August 2017, enplanements on domestic flights increased 4.8 percent while enplanements on U.S. airline’s international flights to and from the U.S. rose 5.5 percent, resulting in a 4.9 systemwide increase.
In three years, from August 2014 to August 2017, enplanements on domestic flights increased 12.6 percent while international enplanements rose 9.5 percent, resulting in a 12.2 systemwide increase.
In unadjusted numbers, systemwide, domestic and international enplanements all reached highs for the month of August.