WSJ: U.S. Airlines Carried 4% Fewer Passengers In July

美国航空运输协会(Air Transport Association)称，美国航空业7月份乘客收入较上年同期减少21%，为连续第九个月下滑。美国航空运输协会称，7月份旅行乘客人数减少4%，每英里平均价格下降18%。6月份每英里平均价格较上年同期下降21%。美国航空运输协会预计，今年劳工节(Labor Day)假期乘客人数将下降约3.5%，至1,600万人次，2008年同期为1,700万人次。该协会将今年9月2日-9月9日界定为劳工节假期。6月份货物运输量较上年同期下降15%，为连续第11个月下滑，其中国内和国际航线运输量分别下滑11%和18%。7月份货运数据未公布。Susan Carey相关阅读美国航空业6月份乘客收入同比下滑26% 2009-07-21美国航空公司3月份客运收入下降23% 2009-04-17


Passenger revenue for U.S. airlines in July fell 21% from the year-earlier month, the ninth consecutive month in which it has declined from the prior year, said the Air Transport Association trade group.U.S. carriers have been suffering from the recession, which is snuffing demand from leisure passengers and business travelers alike, causing fares to drop as carriers attempt to stimulate demand, and leading the airlines to reduce the number of seats they fly.Four percent fewer passengers traveled on U.S. carriers in July, while the average price to fly one mile fell 18%, the ATA said. In June, the average price to fly a mile declined by 21% year-over year. While the modest improvement in demand from June to July normally would be a cause for cautious optimism, 'the fact is that the number of air travelers continues to fall despite double-digit declines in fares,' said ATA chief executive James May.The trade group estimates the number of passengers who will fly globally on U.S. airlines over the Labor Day holiday period this year will fall about 3.5% to 16 million passengers from 17 million in 2008. The ATA defines the period this year as Sept. 2 to Sept. 9.Also reflecting the weak global economy is the continued decline in cargo traffic. U.S. airlines' cargo traffic, as measured in tons of freight flown a mile, declined 15% in June from the year-earlier month, the ATA said. The decline was 11% domestically and 18% on overseas routes, the 11th consecutive month of declining volumes. July cargo data isn't yet available.Susan Carey