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  • Commercial aviation helps drive more than 10M American jobs and 5 cents of every dollar of U.S. GDP

  • Commercial aviation drives more than $1 trillion per year in economic activity

  • U.S. airlines move 50,000 tons of cargo per day

  • In 2011, the average value of a kilogram of U.S. merchandise exported by air was 117 times the value exported by sea

  • For every 100 airline jobs, some 360 are supported outside of the airline industry

  • Federal taxes constitute $61 – or 20% – of the price of a typical $300 domestic round-trip ticket

  • From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines carried 15% more traffic while using 2.1 billion fewer gallons of fuel

  • Domestically, airlines drive 5% of economic activity but account for 2% of man-made GHG emissions

  • From 2000-2010, airlines reduced GHG emissions by 10% while transporting 15% more passengers and cargo

  • From 1975-2010, the number of U.S. residents exposed to significant noise levels fell 95%

  • Commercial air travel is the safest form of intercity transportation in the United States

  • In the most recent decade, scheduled air service on U.S. airlines was seven times safer than in the 1970s

  • From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines improved the on-time arrival rate from 72.6% to 79.8%

  • From 2000-2010, U.S. airlines halved the flight cancellation rate from 3.30% to 1.76%

  • Airfares are a bargain: From 2000-2010, U.S. CPI rose 27% while average domestic fare (excl. taxes) rose just 1%

  • Adjusted for inflation, the average round-trip domestic fare in 2010 fell 21% (from $398 to $316) compared to 2000

  • 2007 domestic flight delays cost the United States approximately $31 billion

  • In 2011, the value of U.S. merchandise exported by air reached an all-time high of $424B

  • In 2011, U.S. exports of air-travel services reached an all-time high of $36.7B, driving the largest trade surplus in this category since 1992

  • In 2011, U.S. passenger and cargo airlines spent $50.5B on fuel, up $11.7B ($32M/day) from 2010

  • In 2011, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of mishandled baggage ever recorded

  • In 2011, U.S. airlines posted the lowest annual rate of involuntary denied boardings ever recorded

  • In 4Q 2011, U.S. airlines posted the second-lowest quarterly on-time arrival rate ever recorded

  • FAA projects U.S. air travel demand to top 1 billion passengers in 2024

  • In 2011, US airlines flew 80 million passengers in scheduled international service- a record high

  • In 2011, US airlines flew at 241.2 billion revenue passenger miles in scheduled international service- a record high

  • In 2011, US airlines operated 299.9 billion available seat miles in scheduled international service- a record high

Economics - Special Topics

Screen with economic data trend lines

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​This section contains selected information on other economic topics of interest.
 
Safety Record of U.S. Air Carriers
Using data from the National Transportation Safety Board

U.S. Airline Mergers and Acquisitions
Unofficial compilation of completed and pending transactions
 
U.S. Airline Bankruptcies and Service Cessations
Unofficial compilation of bankruptcies and service cessations
 
Annual U.S. Impact of Flight Delays (NEXTOR report)
The FAA-commissioned NEXTOR study analyzed data from 2007 to calculate the economic impact of flight delays on airlines and passengers, the costs of lost demand and the toll on U.S. GDP.
 
BTS Monthly Employment Data for U.S. Passenger Airlines
Comprehensive monthly employment data for U.S. passenger airlines

U.S. Passenger and Cargo Airline Fleet
U.S. Passenger and Cargo Airline Fleet

Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)
U.S. airlines provide airlift to the U.S.military in peacetime and wartime.
 

 


A4A Members Deliver Best First-Quarter On-Time Performance (5/14/2012)
A4A today reported the best industry on-time performance for the first three months of the year and the best baggage-handling performance for any March ever recorded.
A4A Forecasts Record Summer International Air Travel (5/9/2012)
A4A today said passengers can expect full flights this summer in part to a record number of people traveling internationally and an improving economy.
A4A Commends Important Reforms in Bipartisan Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization Agreement (5/5/2012)
A4A today issued the following statement on the U.S. Export-Import Bank reauthorization agreement
A4A Members Deliver Further Operational Improvements with On-Time Performance, Baggage Handling Records (4/12/2012)
A4A today reported the best industry on-time performance for any February and the best baggage handling performance for any month ever recorded.
A4A Urges More TSA Efficiency, Not More Passenger Taxes (3/22/2012)
A4A today called on Congress to consider further efficiency within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – not further taxes on airline passengers as proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.
A4A Outlines Path to Grow U.S. Air Travel (3/21/2012)
A4A today outlined recommendations to the U.S. government for improving security and immigration as a way to boost travel and tourism to and within the United States.
A4A Members Challenge German Departure Tax (3/21/2012)
A4A today filed an initial legal complaint to reject the German Air Transport Tax, which illegally penalizes carriers serving the country by taxing U.S. airlines the maximum amount of 45 euros (US$59) per passenger.
A4A Urges Holistic Approach to Tax, Regulatory Challenges (3/19/2012)
A4A today called on the U.S. government to reform federal taxes and regulations to enable U.S. airlines to compete globally on a level playing field and help grow the country’s economy.
A4A Members Set Two Operational Records in January (3/15/2012)
A4A today reported the best industry on-time performance and the lowest rate of mishandled bags for any January.
U.S. Airlines Post Lower Earnings in 2011 Due to Rising Costs (2/28/2012)
A4A today announced that the largest U.S. airlines earned a combined $390 million in 2011 or less than half a penny on every $1 of revenue generated for the year and that this underscores the need for a National Airline Policy.
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U.S. airlines are indispensable facilitators of the U.S. economy.

Related Links
Airline Handbook
Aviation: The Real WWW
BTS Data Release Calendar
BTS Traffic Tool
FAA Admin. Fact Book
FAA Forecasts
Stop Air Tax Now
MIT Airline Data Project
What the Experts Say:
“Thanks to mild weather and operational improvements that our members continue to make, airlines set impressive on-time arrival records for two consecutive quarters, delivering strong results against what is most important to passengers: arriving safely on time and with their bags.”
Nicholas E. Calio, president and CEO, A4A

A4A press release

05/14/2012
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