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Passenger traffic on U.S. airlines since the war with Iraq began is down more than 10 percent from the year-earlier period, according to internal industry numbers reported by Dow Jones Business news. The system-wide traffic figures, the first snapshot of the impact of war at the nation’s airports, are in line with the capacity cuts announced by airlines, which have varied from about 6 percent to 14 percent, depending on the carrier. Any drop from last year’s very weak traffic represents more pain for a devastated industry. Economic analysts indicate that recovery is unlikely before 2004, if then; competition in the air-travel marketplace continues to escalate, revenue remains depressed, and geopolitical concerns are increasingly complex, Delta Chief Executive Leo F. Mullin wrote.
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