BTS 31-15 Thursday, June 25, 2015 Contact: Dave Smallen Tel: 202-366-5568
BTS Releases April 2015 North American Freight Numbers
U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $93.3 billion in April 2015 as all modes but air carried less U.S.-NAFTA freight than in April 2014, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released today by theU.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows by all modes decreased by 6.8 percent. Large decreases in the value of NAFTA trade by pipeline and vessel in April were due to the reduced unit price of mineral fuel shipments.
Freight by Mode In April 2015 compared to April 2014, the value of commodities moving by air grew by 3.0 percent. The value of commodities shipped by all other modes declined. Truck freight and rail freight both decreased by 0.9 percent. Vessel freight decreased by 22.8 percent and pipeline freight decreased by 44.9 percent mainly due to the lower unit price of mineral fuel shipments.
Trucks carried 64.2 percent 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 $29.8 billion of the $49.1 billion of imports (60.8 percent) and $30.1 billion of the $44.3 billion of exports (67.9 percent).
Rail remained the second largest mode, moving 15.6 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 6.5 percent; pipeline, 5.1 percent; and air, 4.1 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.9 percent of the total U.S.-NAFTA freight flows.
U.S.-Canada Freight U.S.-Canada freight totaled $48.8 billion in April 2015, down 12.5 percent from April 2014, as all modes of transportation carried a lower value of U.S.-Canada freight than a year earlier. Lower mineral fuel prices contributed to a year-over-year decrease in the value of rail freight, down 6.3 percent. Mineral fuels are a larger share of what is carried by vessel and pipeline which declined 3.6 percent, and 46.1 percent respectively. The weight of mineral fuels imported by vessel actually increased 45.3 percent, almost offsetting the large price decline of the commodity.
Trucks carried 58.0 percent of the $48.8 billion of freight to and from Canada, followed by rail, 16.9 percent; pipeline, 9.1 percent; vessel, 5.4 percent; and air, 4.5 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.0 percent of the total U.S.-Canada freight flows.
U.S.-Mexico Freight U.S.-Mexico freight totaled $44.5 billion in April 2015, up 0.3 percent from April 2014, as three out of five transportation modes – air, rail, and truck – carried more U.S.-Mexico freight than in April 2014. Year-over-year, the value of U.S.-Mexico air freight rose 17.2 percent, the largest percentage increase of any mode. Freight carried by rail increased by 7.2 percent and truck freight increased by 4.9 percent. Pipeline freight decreased by 20.8 percent and vessel freight decreased by 32.9 percent, mainly due to lower mineral fuel prices.
Trucks carried 70.9 percent of the $44.5 billion of freight to and from Mexico, followed by rail, 14.3 percent; vessel, 7.8 percent; air, 3.5 percent; and pipeline, 0.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 85.9 percent of the total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.
See BTS Transborder Data Release 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.
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BTS Releases April 2015 North American Freight Numbers
BTS Releases 1st Quarter 2015 Airline Financial Data
BTS 30-15 Monday, June 22, 2015 Contact: Dave Smallen Tel: 202-366-5568 BTS Releases 1st Quarter 2015 Airline Financial Data
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit of $3.1 billion in the first quarter of 2015, up from $241 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 and up from $507 million in the first quarter of 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today.
The 26 U.S. scheduled service passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit as a group for the eighth consecutive quarter.
In addition to the after-tax net profit of $3.1 billion based on net income reports, the scheduled service passenger airlines reported a $5.1 billion pre-tax operating profit in the first quarter of 2015, up from $2.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014 and up from $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2014. The airlines reported a pre-tax operating profit - as a group - for the 16th consecutive quarter.
Net income and operating profit or loss 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 before taxes and other nonrecurring items.
Total operating revenue for all U.S. passenger airlines in the January-March first-quarter of 2015 was $39.1 billion. Airlines collected $29.4 billion from fares, 75.2 percent of total first-quarter operating revenue.
Total operating expenses for all passenger airlines in the first-quarter of 2015 were $34.0 billion, of which fuel costs accounted for $7.2 billion, or 21.1 percent, and labor costs accounted for $10.4 billion, or 30.4 percent.
In the first quarter, passenger airlines collected a total of $864 million in baggage fees, 2.2 percent of total operating revenue, and $768 million from reservation change fees, 2.0 percent of total operating revenue. Fees are included for calculations of net income, operating revenue and operating profit or loss.
Baggage fees and reservation change fees are the only ancillary fees paid by passengers that are reported to BTS as separate items. Other fees, such as revenue from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, beverages, pillows, blankets, and entertainment are combined in different categories and cannot be identified separately.
See BTS Airline Financials Release for summary tables and additional data. See airline financial data press releases and the airline financial databases for historic data.
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DOT's Highway Trust Fund ticker reappears as shortfall approaches again
With a shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) approaching, cash management steps are not far away. Because the HTF supports critical roadwork by State DOTs, these cash management procedures will slow improvements and basic repairs on roads across the U.S. To keep Americans informed, we've posted on our website the projected cash flows for the HTF's Highway Account and Mass Transit Account... You can read more about the Highway Trust Fund on our Fast Lane blog.
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Fuel Efficiency Improvements: Saving Money, Oil, and our Planet
From U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx: When President Obama entered the Oval Office, he set an aggressive agenda to combat global climate change and cut America’s reliance on foreign sources of energy. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took another positive step forward by proposing new standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the vehicles that work in our communities and transport goods all over our country. The new standards we’re proposing today are expected to cut fuel costs by about $170 billion, lower CO2 emissions by approximately 1 billion metric tons, and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program. These reductions are roughly equal to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with energy and electricity use by all U.S. residences in one year. The oil savings would exceed U.S. imports from the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) each year. Once upon a time, to be pro-environment you had to be anti-big-vehicles. This rule will change that. In fact, these efficiency standards are good for the environment – and the economy. When trucks use less fuel, shipping costs go down. It’s good news all around... You can read more about today's proposed rule and DOT's commitment to fuel efficiency on our Fast Lane blog.
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BTS Releases April 2015 Passenger Airline Employment Data
BTS 29-15 Thursday, June 18, 2015 Contact: Dave Smallen Tel: 202-366-5568 BTS Releases April 2015 Passenger Airline Employment Data
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.6 percent more workers in April 2015 than in April 2014, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. April was the 17th consecutive month that full-time equivalent (FTE) employment for U.S. scheduled passenger airlines exceeded the same month of the previous year and was the highest monthly total since September 2008.
Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.9 percent from March to April, the fourth consecutive monthly increase. 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 2.4 percent more FTEs in April 2015 than in April 2014. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways and Delta Air Lines increased FTEs from April 2014 while United Airlines reduced FTEs. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.8 percent from March to April, rising for the seventh consecutive month. 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 reported 5.2 percent more FTEs in April 2015 than in April 2014. Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and Virgin America reported increases while Frontier Airlines reduced FTEs. Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 1.7 percent from March to April, rising after a one-month decline. Low-cost airlines operate under a low-cost business model, with infrastructure and aircraft operating costs below the overall industry average.
The 12 regional carriers reported 0.4 percent fewer FTEs in April 2015 than in April 2014. Eight regional airlines – PSA Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Compass Airlines, Republic Airlines, Horizon Air, GoJet Airlines, Envoy, and SkyWest – reported increased employment levels. The others reported decreases. Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs fell 0.1 percent from March to April, declining after two monthly 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.
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