U.S. airlines recorded a 4% increase in international passengers in the first nine months of this year.
Figures just released from the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) show a 0.4% year-on-year increase in total systemwide passengers for the period January-September 2013, to 560.6m
Domestically, U.S. airlines carried 485.8m passengers, up 0.1% percent from 2012.
Internationally, they carried 74.8m passengers, up 3% from 2012.
Systemwide and domestic load factors rose in September 2013 from a year earlier but remained below the all-time September highs reached in 2011.
In both cases, growth in revenue passenger-miles (RPMs) exceeded growth in capacity, measured by available seat-miles (ASMs).
The September 2013 international load factor declined from September 2012 as capacity increased more than the growth in revenue passenger-miles.
During the first nine months of 2013, Delta carried more systemwide passengers than any other U.S. airline; Southwest carried the most domestic passengers, while United carried the most international passengers.
During the first nine months of 2013, more total systemwide and domestic passengers boarded planes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson than at any other U.S. airport and more international passengers boarded U.S. carriers at Miami than at any other U.S. airport.
In September 2013, airline systemwide passengers were up 0.9% year-on-year.
