The Air Transport Association of America, the trade organization for U.S. airlines, says U.S. carriers saw cargo traffic, as measured in cargo revenue ton miles, rise 19 percent year over year (8 percent domestically and 28 percent internationally) in June 2010, driven by increased international trade. More current cargo data is not yet available. The statistics are based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, FedEx, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, United, UPS and US Airways.

Passenger revenue, based on a sample group of carriers, rose 20 percent in July 2010 compared to the same month in 2009, marking the seventh consecutive month of revenue growth. The pace of improvement slowed from the 25 percent year-over-year gain realized in June.

Approximately 1 percent fewer passengers traveled on U.S. airlines in July while the average price to fly one mile rose 17 percent. International passenger revenue rose 36 percent, led by a 52-percent gain in trans-Pacific markets.

"Demand for air travel remains well above last year's depressed levels, but the industry is mindful of cautionary notes about the health of the overall economy," said ATA President and CEO James C. May.

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1tr in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. On a daily basis, U.S. airlines operate approximately 25,000 flights in 80 countries, using more than 6,000 aircraft to carry an average of two million passengers and 50,000 tons of cargo.

ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.

Source: ATA