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BTS 23-13
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568 BTS Releases 4th-Quarter 2012 Airline Financial Data;
Largest Airlines Report Smaller Net Loss in 4th Quarter of 2012 The largest scheduled passenger airlines reported a net loss of $145 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, improved from a loss of $602 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today in a release of preliminary data. BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the 10 largest airlines, as ranked by total number of passengers in the fourth quarter, reported a net loss as a group in the last quarter after two quarters of profits. These 10 airlines carried 76.1 percent of U.S. airlines’ scheduled service passengers in the fourth quarter of 2012 For the full year 2012, the 10 largest airlines reported net income of $201 million, up from $0.5 million loss in 2011. BTS is reporting numbers for Net Income or Loss as well as for Operating Profit or Loss. These are two different measures of airline financial performance. Net Income or Loss may include non-operating income and expenses, nonrecurring items or income taxes. Operating Profit or Loss is calculated from operating revenues and expenses. In contrast to the Net Income reports, the top 10 airlines reported a 1.2 percent operating profit margin in the fourth quarter of 2012, down from 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. The 10 largest airlines achieved an operating profit margin - as a group - in each of the last seven quarters. Together, they posted a profit of $397 million in the fourth quarter. For the full year 2012, the 10 largest airlines reported an operating profit margin of 3.7 percent, up from 3.2 percent in 2011. Total revenue for all passenger airlines in the fourth-quarter of 2012 was $37.6 billion. All U.S. passenger airlines collected a total of $841 million in baggage fees and $610 million from reservation change fees from October through December 2012. Fees are included for calculations of Net Income, Operating Revenue and Operating Profit or Loss. Total revenue for all passenger airlines for the full year 2012 was $159.5 billion. All U.S. passenger airlines collected a total in 2012 of $3.5 billion in baggage fees and $2.6 billion from reservation change fees. See BTS Airline Financials Release for summary tables and additional data. See Airline Financial Data Press Releases for historic data. ### You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
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