BTS 54-14 advisory BTS Releases September 2014 North American Freight Numbers U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $102.2 billion in September 2014 as all five major transportation modes – air, vessel, pipeline, rail, and trucks – carried more U.S.-NAFTA freight than in September 2013, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). September was the seventh consecutive month with U.S.-NAFTA freight flows exceeding $100 billion. Freight by Mode In September, the value of commodities moving by pipeline grew by the largest percentage of any mode, 21.0 percent. Truck freight increased 8.6 percent followed by vessel, 5.4 percent; air, 2.2 percent; and rail, 0.6 percent. Of the $7.8 billion increase in the value of US-NAFTA freight from September 2013, truck freight contributed the most, $4.9 billion, followed by pipeline, $1.4 billion. Trucks carry three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA freight and are the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $31.2 billion of exports and $30.1 billion of imports. Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 15.0 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel at 8.4 percent, pipeline at 7.9 percent, and air at 3.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.9 percent of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows. U.S.-Canada Freight Year-over-year, the percent change in the value of U.S.-Canada freight moved by pipeline increased the most of any mode, growing 19.2 percent. Freight moved by truck increased 6.0 percent and rail by 3.3 percent, while air and vessel were essentially unchanged. Trucks carried 54.0 percent of the $57.4 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail, 16.1 percent; pipeline, 13.3 percent; vessel, 5.3 percent and air, 4.3 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 83.4 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows. U.S.-Mexico Freight Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Mexico pipeline freight rose 60.5 percent, the largest percentage increase of any mode, due to an increase in U.S. exports of mineral fuels. Freight moved by truck increased 11.5 percent; vessel, 8.5 percent; and air 5.3 percent. The 3.3 percent decline in rail freight was principally due to a decline in vehicles and parts trade. Trucks carried 67.6 percent of the $44.9 billion of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail, 13.5 percent; vessel, 12.4 percent; air, 3.0 percent; and pipeline, 1.0 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 82.2 percent of the total U.S.-Mexico freight flows. See BTS Transborder Data Release for summary tables and additional data. See North American Transborder Freight Data on the BTS website for additional data for surface modes since 1995 and all modes since 2004. ### 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 September 2014 North American Freight Numbers
BTS Releases September 2014 Passenger Airline Employment Data
BTS 53-14 BTS Releases September 2014 Passenger Airline Employment DataU.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 384,439 workers in September 2014, 1.1 percent more than in September 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. September was the 10th consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger airlines was higher than the same month of the previous year. The September 2014 FTE total for scheduled passenger airlines was 4,274 more than in September 2013. 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 0.4 percent more FTEs in September 2014 than in September 2013. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and US Airways increased FTEs from September 2013 while United Airlines reduced FTEs. Network airlines operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities. The six low-cost carriers – Spirit Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Virgin America and Southwest Airlines – all reported increases in FTEs from September 2013. Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average. Among the 13 regional carriers, six – Chautauqua Airlines, Endeavor Airlines, Air Wisconsin, Envoy Air, Shuttle America and GoJet Airlines – reported reduced employment levels from September 2013. The others reported increases. Regional carriers typically provide service from small cities, using primarily regional jets to support the network carriers’ hub and spoke systems. See Passenger Airline Employment press release for summary tables and additional data. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site. 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 August 2014 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
BTS 52-14 Advisory BTS Releases August 2014 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that U.S. airlines carried 69.3 million systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service passengers in August 2014, 2.4 percent more than in August 2013. The systemwide total was the result of a 2.5 percent increase in the number of passengers on domestic flights (59.6 million) and a 1.6 percent increase in passengers on U.S. airlines’ international flights (9.8 million). U.S. airlines carried 514.4 million systemwide (domestic + international) scheduled service passengers during the first eight months of 2014, 2.3 percent more than during the same period in 2013. Domestically, U.S. airlines carried 444.8 million passengers, up 2.2 percent from 2013. Internationally, they carried 69.5 million passengers, up 3.2 percent from 2013. See Tables 2, 8 and 14 of Air Traffic Press Releases for previous-year data. Load Factor The August 2014 systemwide load factor (86.4 percent) was up from 86.1 in August 2013 but down from the August record high of 86.5 in 2012. Load factor is a measure of the use of aircraft capacity that compares demand, measured in revenue passenger-miles (RPMs), as a proportion of capacity, measured in available seat-miles (ASMs). Systemwide demand grew more from August 2013 to August 2014 (up 2.3 percent) than the growth in capacity (up 2.0 percent). The domestic load factor (86.8) was a record high for the month of August, topping the previous high of 86.6 set in 2012. Domestic demand grew faster from August 2013 to August 2014 (2.7 percent) than capacity (1.3 percent), resulting in the higher load factor. The international load factor (85.5) declined from 87.2 percent in August 2013 which was the highest August international load factor on record. International demand rose 1.4 percent from August 2013 to August 2014 but was outpaced by 3.4 percent growth in capacity, resulting in the lower load factor. For the eight-month January-August period, systemwide (84.1) and domestic (85.3) load factors were at all-time highs, exceeding the previous highs in 2013. The international load factor (81.6) was down from 2013. Month of August Trends Systemwide: For the month of August, the 2014 systemwide passenger total (69.3 million) was the second highest on record but below the all-time high in August 2007 (71.3 million). Demand, measured in RPMs, was at the highest August level, exceeding the previous record high set in 2013. Demand has exceeded pre-recession levels every month of 2014 except February. Capacity, measured in ASMs, was at the highest August level, exceeding the August 2007 level. See Air Traffic Release for summary tables and additional data. 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. 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 September 2014 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI)
BTS 51-14 BTS Releases September 2014 Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, rose 0.3 percent in September from August, rising for the third consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The September 2014 index level (121.5) was 28.5 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession. The level of freight shipments in September measured by the Freight TSI (121.5) reached its all-time high. BTS’ TSI records begin in 2000. The August index was revised to 121.2 from 120.9 in last month’s release. There were smaller upward revisions for each of the previous months in 2014. 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. Analysis: All freight modes grew in September except rail carloads, which were unchanged. During the month, several other indicators of related parts of the economy that often impact transportation increased. In particular, industrial production grew 1 percent after several months of slow or negative growth. Manufacturers’ shipments and inventories both increased – inventories have increased for 22 of 23 months to reach an historic high. Trend: The Freight TSI increased for the third month in a row in September, reaching an all-time high. The increase was a return to growth after a decline in June. Third quarter 2014 also represented a return to growth after two quarters of modest quarterly declines. The quarterly growth (2.3 percent) was the most rapid since the fourth quarter of 2011. After dipping to 94.6 in April 2009, the index rose 28.5 percent in the succeeding 65 months. See Freight TSI Press Release for summary tables and additional data. See Transportation Services Index for historical data and methodology. You are subscribed to DOT News for Department of Transportation. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
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Airline Consumer Complaints Up From Previous Year
DOT 101-14 Airline Consumer Complaints Up From Previous YearWASHINGTON – Airline consumer complaints filed with DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division during the first nine months of this year were up 18.2 percent from the first nine months of 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released today. From January to September 2014, the Department received 12,350 consumer complaints, up from the total of 10,444 filed during the first nine months of 2013. In September, the Department received 1,157 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 14.2 percent from the 1,013 complaints received in September 2013, but down 27.8 percent from the total of 1,602 filed in August 2014. All of the complaints received by DOT are reviewed to determine the extent to which carriers are in compliance with federal aviation consumer protection regulations. The Department also routinely has discussions with individual carriers when it notices spikes or significant variations in complaint types or complaint levels. The consumer report also includes data on tarmac delays, 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 airline bumping, mishandled baggage reports filed by consumers with the carriers, and 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/airline-consumer-complaints-previous-year. 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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