US international air passenger traffic up four percent

WASHINGTON, DC – International air traffic to/from the US(1) totaled 155.8 million passengers through October 2013, a four percent increase over the October 2012 year-to-date period. U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC – International air traffic to/from the US(1) totaled 155.8 million passengers through October 2013, a four percent increase over the October 2012 year-to-date period. U.S. citizen travel (68.8 million) was up three percent and comprised 44 percent of all air traffic. Non-U.S. citizen air travelers (86.9 million) increased by five percent with their market share at 56 percent.

U.S. airlines carried 83.0 million passengers, up three percent, with their share at 53 percent. Foreign flags carried 72.7 million passengers, up five percent from same period 2012.

International Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.
U.S. Citizens 68.844 3.2% 44.2% -0.4
Non-U.S. Citizens 86.917 4.8% 55.8% 0.4

U.S. Flag Carriers (2) 83.012 3.0% 53.3% -0.5
Foreign Flag Carriers 72.749 5.3% 46.7% 0.5

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

Overseas air traffic accounted for 116.8 million passengers, 75 percent of all international, and grew by four percent. U.S. citizen travel (52.1 million) was up two percent comprising 45 percent of overseas air traffic. Non-U.S. citizen air travelers (64.7 million) were up by five percent with their market share at 55 percent.

U.S. airlines carried 59.1 million passengers, up two percent, their share at 51 percent. Foreign flags carried 57.4 million passengers, up five percent from October 2012 YTD.

Overseas Regions Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.
U.S. Citizens 52.052 1.9% 44.6% -0.8
Non-U.S. Citizens 64.711 5.3% 55.4% 0.8

U.S. Flag Carriers 59.411 2.3% 50.9% -0.7
Foreign Flag Carriers 57.352 5.4% 49.1% 0.7

Overseas regions performed as follows:

Overseas Regions Passengers (mlns) % of all
International % Change
2013 / 2012 YTD
Europe 46.859 30% 2.1%
Asia 23.433 15% 4.3%
Caribbean 16.173 10% 1.0%
South America 12.020 8% 9.7%
Central America 7.808 5% 4.2%
Middle East 5.695 4% 10.9%
Oceania 3.614 2% 8.0%
Africa 1.162 1% -1.2%

North American markets accounted for 25 percent of U.S. international air traffic flows.

Canadian air traffic accounted for 21.6 million passengers, 14 percent of all international traffic, and increased by four percent. U.S. citizen travel (6.1 million) increased seven percent and comprised 28 percent of air traffic. Canadian, and other foreign national citizen air travelers transiting through Canada (15.5 million), increased by almost three percent. Market share was at 72 percent.

U.S. flags carried 10.2 million passengers, up four percent from last year, with their share at 47 percent. Foreign flags carried 11.4 million passengers, up three percent.

Canada Region Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.
U.S. Citizens 6.061 6.6% 28.1% 0.8
Non-U.S. Citizens 15.543 2.6% 71.9% -0.8

U.S. Flag Carriers 10.179 4.2% 47.1% 0.2
Foreign Flag Carriers 11.425 3.3% 52.9% -0.2

Mexico air traffic accounted for 17.4 million passengers, 11 percent of all international traffic, and was up seven percent. U.S. citizen travel (10.7 million) increased eight percent and comprised 62 percent of air traffic. Mexicans, and other foreign national air travelers (6.7 million) transiting through Mexico, increased by five percent, with market share 38 percent.

U.S. flags carried 13.4 million passengers, up six percent from last year, and their share slipped to 77 percent. Foreign flags carried 4.0 million passengers, up 11 percent increasing share to 23 percent.

Mexican Region Passengers (mlns) % Chg y-o-y Market Share % Pt. chg.
U.S. Citizens 10.731 7.7% 61.7% 0.6
Non-U.S. Citizens 6.663 5.2% 38.3% -0.6

U.S. Flag Carriers 13.422 5.7% 77.2% -0.7
Foreign Flag Carriers 3.972 10.5% 22.8% 0.7

October 2013 Year-to-Date

Top 10 Foreign Airports (Passenger Traffic to/From U.S.):
62.5 million Passengers, 40% of Total International Air Traffic

Passengers (millions) % Chg y-o-y
1. London Heathrow (LHR) 12.178 1.8%
2. Toronto (YYZ) 9.108 4.4%
3. Tokyo Narita (NRT) 8.059 0.2%
4. Frankfurt (FRT) 5.762 1.8%
5. Paris/de Gaulle (CDG) 5.478 3.8%
6. Cancun (CUN) 5.194 7.5%
7. Mexico City (MEX) 4.804 9.0%
8. Incheon (ICT) 4.199 5.8%
9. Amsterdam (AMS) 3.966 5.4%
10. Vancouver (YVR) 3.772 0.0%

Top 10 U.S. Airports (Passenger Traffic to/From Foreign Airports):
109.0 million Passengers, 70% of Total Air Traffic

Passengers (millions) % Chg y-o-y
1. New York (JFK) 22.470 5.1%
2. Miami (MIA) 16.578 4.6%
3. Los Angeles (LAX) 14.897 3.2%
4. Newark (EWR) 9.838 0.6%
5. Chicago (ORD) 9.506 4.6%
6. Atlanta (ATL) 8.575 3.1%
7. San Francisco (SFO) 8.213 3.2%
8. Houston (IAH) 7.502 2.4%
9. Washington Dulles (IAD) 5.865 4.2%
10. Dallas-Ft Worth (DFW) 5.592 12.0%

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

Passengers (millions) % Chg y-o-y
1. United Airlines 25.033 1.4%
2. American Airlines 18.621 1.8%
3. Delta Air Lines 18.345 7.1%
4. US Airways 7.001 2.5%
5. British Airways 5.841 3.3%
6. Air Canada 5.135 -7.0%
7. Lufthansa 4.636 4.1%
8. Jet Blue Airways 3.862 10.4%
9. West Jet 3.185 9.0%
10. Air France 2.940 -2.5%

Monthly % changes:
(Note: Easter/Passover was โ€˜earlierโ€™ in 2013 (March 31) vs. April 8, 2012)

(1) This reflects non-stop air-only data. A portion of the non-stop passenger traffic to i.e., Europe will not visit Europe, but will connect through one of Europeโ€™s airline hubs (LHR, AMS, FRA, CDG, MAD, etc.) to Africa and the Middle East. The adjustment to these regions, reflecting visitation (1+ nights), occurs after year-end data is compiled.

(2) Numbers for U.S. carriers varies from what has been reported by Airlines for America. A4A reported mainline numbers for most of their member carriers. A4A includes Canada in Domestic. The DHS-I92/APIS data includes all carriers with international service to/from the U.S. including regional carriers, both affiliated and non-affiliated, and general aviation. The I-92APIS, however is not inclusive of Pacific inter-port or other โ€˜beyondโ€™ traffic.

Performance metrics reported are:

Total international air travel (arrivals + departures),
U.S. citizen and foreign citizen air travelers,
U.S. flag and foreign flag carriers,
Top U.S. and foreign airports.

About the author

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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