U.S. airline traffic rebounds in 2010
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March 24--U.S. airlines and foreign airlines serving the United States in 2010 carried 786.7 million passengers, a 2.1 percent increase compared with 2009, the federal government says.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported U.S. airlines flew 720.4 million passengers in 2010, a 2.4 percent increase compared with a year earlier, while foreign airlines transported 66.3 million passengers, down 0.3 percent from 2009.
The 2010 passenger total remained 3.2 percent below the 812.3 million passengers flown by U.S. and foreign carriers in 2008, the agency said.
Delta Air Lines, following its merger with Northwest Airlines, carried more total system passengers in 2010 -- 110.9 million, a 63.7 percent increase from 2009 -- than any other U.S. airline for the first time since 2001, BTS said.
The top five airlines in total system boardings last year were:
1. Delta, 110.9 million, up 63.7 percent.
2. Southwest Airlines, 106.2 million, up 4.8 percent.
3. American Airlines, 86.1 million, up 0.5 percent.
4. United Airlines, 54.08 million, down 3.5 percent.
5. US Airways, 51.8 million, up 1.6 percent.
Delta Air Lines also carried more international passengers in 2010 than any other U.S. carrier. American Airlines flew more international passengers to the United States than any other U.S. carrier for the previous 20 years, BTS said.
The top
five airlines flying international passengers in 2010 were:
1. Delta, 20.97 million, up 73.1 percent.
2. American, 20.4 million, up 4.3 percent.
3. Continental, 12.87 million, up 7 percent.
4. United, 10.77 million, up 3.1 percent.
5. US Airways, 6.67 million, up 3.3 percent.
More total system passengers, domestic and international, boarded planes at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in 2010 than any other U.S. airport, the agency said.
The top five U.S. airports for domestic and international boardings in 2010 were:
1. Atlanta, 42.98 million, up 2 percent.
2. Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 32.06 million, up 3.1 percent.
3. Los Angeles International Airport, 28.5 million, up 3.9 percent.
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, 27.02 million, up 1.6 percent.
5. Denver International Airport, 25.18 million, up 5.2 percent.
D.R. Stewart 918-581-8451