March

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) says its reporting airlines carried 3.1% more domestic passengers in 2007 than in 2006, for an annual record of 679 million, and 4.7% more international passengers in 2007 than in 2006, for an annual record of 90 million.

In December, 2007, U.S. airlines carried 60.8 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 0.1% more than in December 2006.  The number of domestic passengers decreased 0.6% and international passengers increased 4.9%.  The carriers operated 10.7 million domestic and international flights in 2007, 1.0% more than were operated in 2006. Domestic fights were up 1.0% from 2006 while international flights were up 0.8%.

In December, 2007, U.S. airlines operated 872,900 scheduled domestic and international flights, down 0.4% from the number of flights operated in December 2006. The number of domestic flights declined 0.5% in December from a year earlier while international flights increased 0.8%.

In other total system comparisons:

• RPMs (revenue passenger miles) were up 4.0% in 2007.  In December, RPMs were up 2.4%.

• ASMs (available seat-miles) were up 3.1% in 2007.  In December, ASMs were up 3.2%.

Domestic Air Travel

The airlines carried 679.1 million scheduled domestic passengers in 2007, up 3.1% from 658.4 million carried in 2006. The passengers were carried on 9.8 million flights, up 1.0% from the 9.7 million flights operated in 2006. In December, the airlines carried 53.2 million scheduled domestic passengers, down 0.6% from the 53.5 million carried during December 2006. The passengers were carried on 800,800 flights, down 0.5% from the 805,000 flights operated in December 2006.

In other domestic comparisons:

• Domestic RPMs were up 3.1% in 2007.  In December, domestic RPMs were up 0.4%.

• Domestic ASMs were up 2.1% in 2007.  In December, domestic ASMs were up 1.7%.

International Air Travel

U.S. airlines carried 90.4 million scheduled international passengers in 2007, up 4.7% from the 86.3 million carried in 2006.  The passengers were carried on 856,800 flights, up 0.8% from the 849,800 flights operated in 2006.  In December, the airlines carried 7.5 million international passengers, up 4.9% from the 7.2 million carried during December 2006. The passengers were carried on 72,100 flights, up 0.8% from the 71,600 flights operated in December 2006.

In other international comparisons:

• International RPMs were up 6.4% in 2007.  In December, international RPMs were up 7.5%.

• International ASMs were up 5.6% n 2007.  In December, international ASMs were up 6.9%.

Additional traffic numbers are available at http://transtats.bts.gov. 03-20-2008.

JP Morgan is projecting a collective full-year loss of $4 billion-$9 billion for U.S. airlines in 2008, due to rising fuel prices and decreasing demand.  03-20-2008.

The FAA's most recent forecast (March 2008) sees U.S. airline capacity, including that of regional carriers, growing just 2.7% in 2008, with mainline carrier domestic market capacity increasing only 0.3%, and regional carrier capacity by 2.5%.  U.S. mainline system traffic is forecast to grow 2.8% to 770.6 billion RPMs (revenue passenger miles) in 2008, with a 2.7% increase in capacity to 957.4 billion ASMs (available seat miles). The agency's forecasters project long-term average annual RPM growth to be 4% through 2025 on an average annual capacity rise of 3.8%. Mainline system traffic in 2025 is forecast to be 1.513 trillion RPMs while capacity is projected at 1.84 trillion ASMs.  03-13-2008.

In its most recent trend assessment, AOPA reports U.S. ATC center and tower activity was down 2% and 3% respectively in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.  Sales of avgas gallons were down by 10%, when compared to last year's fourth quarter numbers.  Student certificate issuances were up 15% in 2007, while private issuances were up 19%, ATP (airline transport pilot) issuances were up 4%, and instrument ratings were up 12%. Commercial issuances were down 2%, and CFI (certified flight instructor) ratings issued were down 9% last year. There were 669 single-engine piston aircraft deliveries in 2007, compared to 612 in 2006. The number of general aviation accidents was down 2% for the fourth quarter, but up 6% in year-to-date comparisons.   More information can be found at http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/trend.html.  03-13-2008.

The Association of European Airlines reports the passenger-kilometer miles flown by its members increased 2.8% in January 2008, which was the lowest monthly growth rate, excluding those with special calendar effects (Easter and leap year), since September 2003. Cross-border traffic within Europe grew 5.7% but domestic traffic decreased 2.4%. The North Atlantic region grew at a 1.7% rate, the Far East’s was 0.9%, and the South Atlantic was 10.0%.  03-13-2008.

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) said the 20 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 72.4% in January, down from January 2007's 73.% but an improvement over December 2007's 64.3%.

In January, the carriers canceled 2.9% of their scheduled domestic flights, up from the 2.5% cancellation rate posted in January 2007 but down from the 3.5% rate recorded in December 2007.

In January, the filing carriers reported that 8.42% of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 10.41% in December; 8.41% by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 10.89% in December; 6.79% by factors within the airline's control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 9.15% in December; 0.88% by extreme weather, compared to 1.38% in December; and 0.07% for security reasons, compared to 0.08% in December.

(Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by the FAA in consultation with the carriers involved.  Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category.)

Data collected by BTS also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in NAS (national aviation system) delays. In January, 43.56% of late flights were delayed by weather, up 4.51% from January 2007, when 41.68% of late flights were delayed by weather, and down 0.02% from December when 43.57% of late flights were delayed by weather.

Rockwell Collins to Acquire Athena Technologies  03-11-2008.

The e International Air Transport Association (IATA) said year-on-year international passenger demand grew by 4.3% in January, down from the 6.7% growth recorded in December and the 7.4% recorded for the full-year of 2007.  Capacity grew by 4.2%.  International cargo demand grew by 4.5% in January, largely unchanged from 4.7% year-on-year growth recorded in December.  03-04-2008.

Bombardier delivered 361 aircraft for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2008, an increase of more than 10% over the 326 aircraft deliveries in the previous fiscal year.  The Company received 698 aircraft orders compared to 363 for the same period during the previous year.  In fiscal year 2007/08, Bombardier delivered 232 business jets, compared to 212 for the same period last fiscal year - an increase of approximately 9%.  In fiscal year 2007/08, Bombardier delivered 128 regional aircraft, compared to 112 from the same period last year - an increase of approximately 14%. Reflecting the continued shift in demand towards larger regional jets and turboprops, 47 Q400 aircraft were delivered in fiscal year 2007/08, compared to 31 for the same period last year. Fifty-six CRJ900/ CRJ900 NextGen aircraft were delivered in 2007/08, compared to 50 for the previous fiscal year. Orders rose significantly year-over-year with an intake of 238, compared to 87 for the previous year. In the fourth fiscal quarter, Bombardier received orders for 51 regional aircraft, compared to 21 orders in the same period last year.  03-04-2008.

While some analysts say that an economic slowdown could be imminent, Air Transport Association Chief Economist John Heimlich said ATA airlines are generally finding that demand for travel remains steady. "Things are holding up well through March at this point," Heimlich said, and noted that U.S. carriers have increased their exposure to international markets, a move that will help them if the U.S. economy slows.  But not everyone agrees. US Airways CEO Doug Parker has called the airline's present situation "a mess." 03-04-2008.

According to safety analyst Robert E. Breiling Associates, total U.S. helicopter accidents numbered 78 in 2007, compared to 80 in 2006 and 78 in 2007.  Preliminary data show there were 12 fatal accidents last year, compared with 10 in 2006; fatalities increased from 18 in 2006 to 21 in 2007.  Single-turbine accidents increased to 69 in 2007 from 65 in 2006, while twin-turbine accidents decreased from 15 in 2006 to nine in 2007.  03-04-2008.

Nav Canada reported its January 2008 traffic increased by an average of 6.5% compared to the same month in 2007. Fiscal year-to-date traffic was 5.6% higher than in fiscal year 2007. (Nav Canada's fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31.)  03-04-2008.

DayJet Corporation has added Macon, Georgia, Montgomery, Alabama, and North Miami/Opa-locka, Florida, to its cities with DayJet service. DayJet members can now use the company's "per-seat, on-demand" jet service between 45 airports across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina when they begin or end their travel at Macon Downtown Airport (MAC), Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), Miami Executive Opa-locka Airport (OPF) or one of the other seven DayPort airports across Florida and Georgia. 03-04-2008.

In its tenth Turbine-Powered Civil Helicopter Purchase Outlook, Honeywell projects deliveries of roughly 4,450 new civil-use helicopters during the five-year period 2008 – 2012, of which 65% will go to corporate, EMS (emergency medical services) and law enforcement operators.  Other key points of the Outlook are:

• Civil helicopter deliveries were up 25-30% in 2007 and are expected to rise again in 2008.

• Civil helicopter sales during the five-year period 2008-2012 will be up to 50% greater than in the five-year period 2003-2007.

• Global demand could exceed 10,000 new civil helicopters during the period 2008-2018.