BTS 19-13 BTS Releases February Passenger Airline Employment Data; February 2013 Employment Down 2.5 Percent from February 2012U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 380,159 workers in February 2013, 2.5 percent fewer than in February 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. February was the sixth consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger carriers was below that of the same month of the previous year, following 21 months of increases from the same month of the previous year (December 2010 through August 2012). BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the February 2013 FTE total for scheduled passenger carriers was 9,742 fewer than in February 2012 and down 2.9 percent from the recent February high of 391,596 in February 2009. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. The five network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 3.0 percent fewer FTEs in February 2013 than in February 2012, the seventh consecutive decline from the same month of the previous year for the group. Delta Air Lines reduced FTEs by 3.7 percent from February 2012. American Airlines reduced FTEs by 9.1 percent over the same period. United Airlines reported a total of 82,414 FTEs in February 2013, 0.6 percent more FTEs than in February 2012. US Airways reported 0.4 percent more FTEs while Alaska Airlines increased FTEs by 3.3 percent from February 2012. 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. Four of the six low-cost carriers, Allegiant Airlines, Virgin America Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways, reported an increase in FTEs. Southwest Airlines, following its merger with AirTran Airways, reported 45,857 FTEs in February 2013, 0.2 percent less than the two airlines reported separately in February 2012. Frontier Airlines also reported fewer FTEs. 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-
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BTS Releases February Passenger Airline Employment Data
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day: April 27, 2013
National Take-Back Day
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. In the five previous Take-Back events, DEA in conjunction with its state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners have collected more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications that were removed from circulation. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to dispose of those medications easily and safely.
For more information, including a Collection Site Locator and a Partnership Toolbox, visit DEA's website.
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BTS Releases January 2013 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
BTS 18-13 BTS Releases January 2013 U.S. Airline Traffic Data; System Passengers Up 1.6% from January 2012The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that U.S. airlines carried 55.3 million scheduled systemwide passengers in January 2013, 1.6 percent more than in January 2012. The systemwide increase was the result of a 1.5 percent increase in the number of domestic passengers (47.8 million) and a 2.3 percent increase in international passengers (7.5 million).
BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the system load factor of 78.8 percent, the domestic load factor of 78.9 percent and the international load factor of 78.8 percent were record highs for the month of January. Additional traffic data can be found on the BTS Airlines and Airports page. Click on a link in the Quick Links box on the right. For more historical data, see Traffic on the BTS website. Load Factor and Capacity Both systemwide and domestic capacity, measured by available seat-miles (ASMs), increased in January 2013 from January 2012 but stronger year-to-year growth in system and domestic revenue passenger-miles (RPMs) resulted in the record January load factors. The previous system and domestic load factor records for January were set in 2012. In January, for the second consecutive month, international capacity declined from the same month of the previous year. The capacity decline combined with an RPM increase from January 2012 resulted in a record international load factor for the month of January, surpassing the previous high set in January 2010. Load factor is a measure of the use of aircraft capacity that compares RPMs as a proportion of ASMs. See Tables 1, 7 and 13 of Air Traffic Press Releases for previous-year data. Top Airlines Monthly: In January, Delta Airlines carried more system passengers than any other U.S. airline. Southwest Airlines carried the most domestic passengers. United Airlines carried the most international passengers. The top 10 U.S. airlines in terms of number of passengers carried 80.7 percent of systemwide passengers, up from 79.4 percent carried by the U.S. airlines that were in the top 10 in January 2012. See Air Traffic Release for summary tables and additional data. ###
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Airlines Report 34 Tarmac Delays Over Three Hours on Domestic Flights, None Longer Than Four Hours on International Flights in February
DOT 32-13 Airlines Report 34 Tarmac Delays Over Three Hours on Domestic Flights, None Longer Than Four Hours on International Flights in February Airlines reported 34 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, but no tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights in February, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released today. All of the long tarmac delays took place on February 16 and involved flights departing from or arriving at Charlotte International Airport in North Carolina, where a snowstorm affected the area that day. All of the reported tarmac delays involve US Airways or its code share partners and are under investigation by the Department. The larger U.S. airlines have been required to file complete reports on their long tarmac delays for domestic flights since October 2008. Under a rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports. Also beginning Aug. 23, 2011, carriers operating international flights may not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane. There is a separate three-hour limit on tarmac delays involving domestic flights, which went into effect in April 2010. Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic and international flights are allowed only for safety, security, or air traffic control-related reasons. Severe weather could cause or exacerbate such situations. The consumer report also includes data on on-time performance, cancellations, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers. In addition, the consumer report contains information on mishandled baggage reports filed by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability, and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division. The consumer report also includes reports of incidents involving the loss, death, or injury of pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers. A news release on the Air Travel Consumer Report is available at http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room/airlines-report-34-tarmac-delays-over-three-hours-domestic-flights-none-longer-four. The full consumer report is available at www.dot.gov/individuals/air-consumer/air-travel-consumer-reports. Detailed information on flight delays is available at www.bts.gov. -END- You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
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BTS Releases Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)
BTS 17-13
BTS Releases Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI);Freight Shipments Rose 1.2% in February from January The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 1.2 percent in February from January, rising for the fourth consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) released today. The February 2013 index level (113.9) was 20.1 percent above the April 2009 low during the recession and the highest level since December 2011. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the level of freight shipments in February measured by the Freight TSI (113.9) was 1.1 percent below the revised all-time high level of 115.2 in December 2011. BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000. Beginning with this release, BTS has improved procedures and refined the TSI methodology. As a result there have been revisions in monthly numbers released previously. Documentation will be made available in the near future. The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments by mode of transportation in tons and ton-miles, which are combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight. The TSI is seasonally adjusted so that trends reflect changes beyond normal monthly fluctuations. Analysis: The Freight TSI increased for a fourth consecutive month in February 2013, with growth across most freight modes. This increase was consistent with several other indicators pointing to economic growth in February. Trend: With the February increase to 113.9, the index has exceeded its 2012 range for two months in a row. With four consecutive monthly increases, the February index was at its second highest level since April 2009 during the recession exceeded only by December 2011. January 2013 was the third highest level since April 2009. After dipping to 94.8 in April 2009, the index rose 20.1 percent in the succeeding 46 months. Index highs and lows: Freight shipments in February 2013 (113.9) were 20.1 percent higher than the recent low in April 2009 during the recent recession (94.8). In April 2009, freight shipments were at their lowest level over the entire history of the TSI since 2000. The February 2013 level is down 1.1 percent from the historic peak reached in December 2011 (115.2). See Freight TSI Press Release for summary tables and additional data. See Transportation Services Index for historical data and methodology. ###
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