BTS Releases North American Surface Trade Numbers for November

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. BTS 6-13 Thursday, January 31, 2013 Contact: Dave Smallen Tel: 202-366-5568  BTS Releases North American Surface Trade Numbers for November: November 2012 U.S. Surface Transportation Trade with Canada and Mexico Totaled $81.5 Billion  Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, rose 6.2 percent in November 2012 compared to November 2011, totaling $81.5 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Adjusted for inflation and exchange rates and presented in January 2004 dollars, the November 2012 total was $59.5 billion, up 7.6 percent from November 2011.   BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that in November 2012, $56.2 billion of U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico moved by truck, $14.9 billion moved by rail, and $5.9 billion moved by pipeline.   Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, other modes of transport, and goods moving into Foreign Trade Zones. Surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico accounted for 21 percent of total U.S. foreign trade in November 2012.  U.S.-Canada surface trade was $46.7 billion in current dollars in November 2012, while U.S.-Mexico surface trade was $34.8 billion. For trade statistics by mode, see Table 3 for Canada and Table 5 for Mexico.  In November, Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada, at $6.6 billion in current dollars (Table 4). The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada by surface modes of transportation in November was vehicles and parts, valued at $9.6 billion in current dollars (Table 7).   Texas continued to lead all states in surface trade with Mexico at $12.4 billion in current dollars (Table 6). The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Mexico by surface modes of transportation in November was electrical machinery with $7.9 billion in trade in current dollars (Table 8).  See BTS Transborder Data Release for summary tables, state rankings and additional data. See North American Transborder Freight Data for historical data.                                                                                                                                    ###     You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. You are subscribed to DOT email updates. Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences Questions for DOT? Contact DOT  STAY CONNECTED             U.S. Department of Transportation | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington DC 20590 | 202-385-HELP (4357)

National Drug Facts Week

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. On our web site www.dot.gov/odapc, we posted a link to an important program sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): “The National Drug Facts Week” January 28-February 3, 2013. National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse. Through community-based events and activities on the Web, on TV, and through contests, NIDA is working to encourage teens to get factual answers from scientific experts about drugs and drug abuse. We encourage you to visit this site and share the information with others. You are subscribed to DOT email updates. Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences Questions for DOT? Contact DOT  STAY CONNECTED           U.S. Department of Transportation | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington DC 20590 | 202-385-HELP (4357)

BTS Releases November Passenger Airline Employment Data

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. BTS 5-13 Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Contact: Dave Smallen Tel: 202-366-5568  BTS Releases November Passenger Airline Employment Data; November 2012 Employment Down 2.0 Percent from November 2011  U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 381,639 workers in November 2012, 2.0 percent fewer than in November 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. This was the third consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers has been lower than the same month of the previous year. This follows 22 months of year-to-year increases that began in November 2010.  BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the November 2012 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 7,722 fewer than in November 2011 and is the lowest monthly total since January 2011.    There were 0.7 percent fewer FTEs in November 2012 than in October 2012. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal factors, such as the number of flights and passengers.  The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.4 percent fewer FTEs in November 2012, the fourth consecutive decline for the group. Delta Air Lines, eliminating positions following its merger with Northwest Airlines, reduced FTEs by 3.6 percent from November 2011. American Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2011, reduced FTEs by 7.4 percent. United Airlines reported a post-merger total of 82,381 FTEs in November 2012, 1,384 or 1.7 percent more FTEs than the 80,997 United and Continental Airlines reported separately in November 2011. Network airlines operate a significant portion of flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities.  Among the six low-cost carriers, Allegiant Airlines, Virgin America Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways reported an increase in FTEs. Frontier Airlines was the only low-cost carrier reporting fewer FTEs. Southwest Airlines reported 45,953 FTEs in November 2012 in a joint report following its merger with AirTran Airways. The combined total was 348 or 0.8 percent more than the 45,605 FTEs the two airlines reported separately in November 2011. Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average.  See Passenger Airline Employment press release for summary tables and additional data. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site.  -end-   You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. You are subscribed to DOT email updates. Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences Questions for DOT? Contact DOT  STAY CONNECTED             U.S. Department of Transportation | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington DC 20590 | 202-385-HELP (4357)

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces That He Will Not Serve for a Second Term

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. DOT 09-13 Tuesday, January 29, 2013 Contact: Justin Nisly Tel: 202-366-4570                                                                 U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces That He Will Not Serve for a Second Term   WASHINGTON – This morning, Secretary Ray LaHood announced to the employees of the U.S. Department of Transportation that after serving for four years in President Obama’s Cabinet, he would not be staying on for the second term. The Secretary sent the following email to DOT employees across the country, informing them of his plans:   “I have let President Obama know that I will not serve a second term as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Department, and I am grateful to President Obama for giving me such an extraordinary opportunity. I plan to stay on until my successor is confirmed to ensure a smooth transition for the Department and all the important work we still have to do.   As I look back on the past four years, I am proud of what we have accomplished together in so many important areas. But what I am most proud of is the DOT team. You exemplify the best of public service, and I truly appreciate all that you have done to make America better, to make your communities better, and to make DOT better.   Our achievements are significant. We have put safety front and center with the Distracted Driving Initiative and a rule to combat pilot fatigue that was decades in the making. We have made great progress in improving the safety of our transit systems, pipelines, and highways, and in reducing roadway fatalities to historic lows. We have strengthened consumer protections with new regulations on buses, trucks, and airlines.   We helped jumpstart the economy and put our fellow Americans back to work with $48 billion in transportation funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009, and awarded over $2.7 billion in TIGER grants to 130 transportation projects across the Nation. We have made unprecedented investments in our nation’s ports. And we have put aviation on a sounder footing with the FAA reauthorization, and secured funding in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act to help States build and repair their roads, bridges and transit systems.   And to further secure our future, we have taken transportation into the 21st century with CAFE Standards, NextGen, and our investments in passenger and High-Speed Rail. What’s more, we have provided the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with the funding and leadership it needs to prepare a new generation of midshipmen to meet our country’s rapidly-evolving defense and maritime transportation needs.   Closer to home, we also have made great strides. In December, the DOT was recognized as the most improved agency in the entire Federal government in the 2012 “Best Places to Work” rankings published by the Partnership of Public Service. Even more impressive, DOT was ranked 9th out of the 19 largest agencies in the government.   Each of these remarkable accomplishments is a tribute your hard work, creativity, commitment to excellence, and most of all, your dedication to our country. DOT is fortunate to have such an extraordinary group of public servants. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you as the selection and confirmation process of the next transportation secretary moves forward. Now is not the time to let up - we still have a number of critical safety goals to accomplish and still more work to do on the implementation of MAP-21.     I’ve told President Obama, and I’ve told many of you, that this is the best job I’ve ever had. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with all of you and I’m confident that DOT will continue to achieve great things in the future.   Thank you, and God bless you.”   ### You are subscribed to DOT email updates. Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences Questions for DOT? Contact DOT  STAY CONNECTED             U.S. Department of Transportation | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington DC 20590 | 202-385-HELP (4357)

BTS Releases 3rd-Quarter 2012 Air Fare Data

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. BTS 4-13 Thursday, January 24, 2013 Contact: Dave Smallen Tel: 202-366-5568  BTS Releases 3rd-Quarter 2012 Air Fare Data; 3rd-Quarter 2012 Domestic Air Fares Rose 1.8% from 3rd Quarter 2011    Top 100 Airports: Highest Fares at Huntsville, Lowest Fares at Atlantic City   Average domestic air fares rose to $367 in the third quarter of 2012, up 1.8 percent from the average fare of $361 in the third quarter of 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Huntsville, Ala., had the highest average fare, $522, while Atlantic City, N.J., had the lowest, $133.  Not adjusted for inflation, the $367 third-quarter 2012 average fare is the fifth-highest average fare for any quarter since BTS began collecting air fare records in 1995. The highest was $385 in the second quarter of 2012. The previous third-quarter high was $361 in 2011. Third-quarter 2012 fares were $243 in 1995 dollars, down 18.1 percent from the average fare of $297 in 2000, the inflation-adjusted high for any third quarter.   BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares” or abnormally high reported fares.  Passenger airlines collected 71.2 percent of their total revenue from passenger fares during the third quarter of 2012, down from 1990 when 87.6 percent of airline revenue was received from fares.  Unadjusted third-quarter fares increased 9.0 percent from the third quarter of 2000 to the third quarter of 2012.  During those 12 years, inflation-adjusted fares declined 18.1 percent while there was an overall increase in consumer prices of 33.2 percent. In the 17 years from 1995, unadjusted air fares rose 27.7 percent compared to a 15.5 percent decline in inflation-adjusted fares and a 51.0 percent increase in consumer prices.  Unadjusted third-quarter 2012 fares were up 19.6 percent from the recession low of $307 in 2009.  See BTS Air Fare Release for summary tables and additional data. See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.  ###     You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. You are subscribed to DOT email updates. Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences Questions for DOT? Contact DOT  STAY CONNECTED             U.S. Department of Transportation | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington DC 20590 | 202-385-HELP (4357)