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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that 786.7 million scheduled passengers traveled on U.S. airlines and on foreign airlines serving the United States in 2010. This is a 2.1 percent increase from 2009. The 2010 passenger total still remained 3.2 percent below the level of 812.3 million in 2008.
BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, in a release of preliminary data, reported that U.S. airlines carried 2.4 percent more total system passengers in 2010 than in 2009. U.S. airlines carried 1.9 percent more domestic passengers in 2010 and 5.9 percent more international passengers than in 2009. Passengers to and from the United States on foreign carriers decreased 0.3 percent from 2009.
This release includes data on U.S. carrier scheduled domestic and international service and foreign carrier scheduled international service to and from the United States. BTS regular monthly air traffic releases include data on U.S. carrier scheduled service only.
During the first six months of 2010, the number of passengers carried on U.S. airlines and on foreign airlines to and from the United States increased 1.6 percent from the same period in 2009. During the last six months, this increase was 2.6 percent.
Top Airlines in 2010
Delta Air Lines, following its merger with Northwest Airlines, carried more total system passengers in 2010 than any other U.S. airline for the first time since 2001. Delta carried more international passengers to and from the United States in 2010 than any other U.S. or foreign carrier after American had carried the most for 20 consecutive years.
Top Airports in 2010
More total system passengers boarded planes in 2010 at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport; and more international passengers boarded planes at New York John F. Kennedy than at any other U.S. airport.
Flights Operated
U.S. carriers and foreign carriers serving the United States operated 10.0 million domestic and international flights in 2010, 0.8 percent fewer than operated in 2009.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
