US airlines carried a total of 69.3m domestic and international scheduled passengers in August 2014 – some 2.4% more than in August 2013.

 

According to the ‘latest reported data’ this month from the US Department of Transportation, there was a 2.5% rise in passenger numbers on domestic flights (59.6m) and a 1.6% hike in passengers on US airlines’ international flights (9.8m).

 

In total, US airlines carried 514.4m domestic and international scheduled service passengers during the first eight months of 2014, some 2.3% more than during the same period in 2013.

 

Domestically, US airlines carried 444.8m passengers, +2.2% from 2013. Internationally, they handled 69.5m passengers, +3.2% from 2013 – only emphasising the huge US ‘domestic’ air traffic market bias.

 

Drilling down into the data, the August 2014 load factor of 86.4% rose marginally against the 86.1% recorded in August 2013, but was ultimately down compared with the August 2012 record high of 86.5%.

 

The domestic load factor of 86.8% was a record high for the month of August, topping the previous 86.6% level set in 2012. Domestic demand grew 2.7% faster from August 2013 to August 2014 compared to capacity at 1.3%.

 

 

American Airlines carried 14.8m international passengers in the first eight months of 2014.

 

 

LOAD FACTOR PERFORMANCE

By contrast, the August 2014 international load factor of 85.5% declined from 87.2% in August 2013, although in reality the August 2013 result still remains the highest on record. While international demand rose by 1.4% from August 2013 to August 2014, this was also outpaced by the 3.4% rise in capacity.

 

For the eight-month January-August period, system wide (84.1%) domestic (85.3%) load factors stood at all-time highs, exceeding previous record highs in 2013. However, the international load factor at 81.6% was down from 2013.

 

As mentioned, the August 2014 total system wide passenger total of 69.3m was the second highest on record, but it was still eclipsed by the all-time high of 71.3m in August 2007.

 

The US Department of Transportation adds that demand, measured in RPMs, was at the highest August level, exceeding the previous record high set in 2013.

 

Demand has exceeded pre-recession levels in every month of 2014, except February. Capacity, measured in ASMs, was at the highest August level, exceeding the August 2007 level.

 

On the domestic market side, the August 2014 passenger total of 59.6m was the highest since the end of the recession, but still below the all-time August 2007 high of 62.7m.

 

The second biggest US carrier in terms of international passengers in the first eight month of 2014.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER HIGH

By contrast, the number of international passengers in terms of demand and capacity on US airlines’ international flights were at their highest on record for the month of August 2014, exceeding all previous highs in August 2013.

 

In terms of the top airlines in August, Delta Air Lines carried more system wide passengers than any other US airline; Southwest carried the most passengers on domestic flights; and United Airlines serviced the most international passenger numbers.

 

Altogether, the top 10 US airlines carried 81.8% of system-wide passengers, up from the 80.5% carried by all US airlines ranked in the top 10 in August 2013.

 

By comparison, during the January-August period of 2014, Delta carried more system wide passengers than any other US airline, with Southwest the domestic champion and United Airlines still top of the international league table.

 

 

GROWING MIAMI FACTOR

The US Department of Transportation reports that the top 10 US airlines carried 81.3% of system wide passengers, up from 80.6% accounted for by US airlines ranked in the top 10 between January and August 2013.

 

Turning to the top airports during August 2014 in the US, more system wide passengers boarded US carriers’ aircraft at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other US airport. Similarly, more domestic passengers boarded planes at Atlanta than at any other US airport and more international passengers used US carriers at New York JFK.

International departing passengers carried by the top 10 US airlines in the first eight months of 2014. Source: US Department of Transportation

 

 

During the first eight months of 2014, more total system wide passengers boarded US airline services at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other US airport, while the most domestic-only passengers also boarded aircraft at Atlanta versus any other US airport.

 

Meanwhile, more international passengers boarded US carriers at Miami Airport over this same period, reflecting the continuing importance of this facility as the most attractive international airport in the North American market.

 

TOP IMAGE: United Airlines carried more international passengers than any other US airline in the first eight months of 2014.