Thursday, September 22, 2016 Contact: Nancy Wilochka Tel: 202-366-5128
BTS Statistics Release: July 2016 North American Freight Numbers
All transportation modes except rail carried less cross-border freight by value in July 2016 compared to July 2015, resulting in a 10.0 percent decrease to $83.7 billion in the total current dollar value of freight moved. The $83.7 billion in July 2016 cross-border freight is the lowest monthly amount since February 2011, which had $76.7 billion in cross-border freight. July was the 19th consecutive month that the total value of U.S. freight with North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico declined from the same month of the previous year, according to the TransBorder Freight Data released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).
Freight by Mode The value of commodities moving by rail increased 0.9 percent while the value of freight carried on other modes decreased: air by 6.4 percent; truck by 8.8 percent; vessel by 25.1 percent; and pipeline by 26.9 percent. The increase in rail is due in part to the a 14 percent year-over-year increase in the value of vehicles and parts traded with Mexico. A drop in the price of crude oil played a role in the large declines in the dollar value of products shipped by vessel and pipeline. Crude oil (a component of mineral fuels) comprises a large share of the commodities carried by these modes. Average monthly prices for crude petroleum and refined fuel are available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Mineral fuels, a commodity category that includes crude oil and coal, accounted for 10.1 percent of total value of U.S.-NAFTA trade in July.
Trucks carried 64.7 percent of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $27.8 billion of the $44.6 billion of imports (62.4 percent) and $26.4 billion of the $39.1 billion of exports (67.4 percent).
Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.4 percent of all U.S.-NAFTA freight, followed by vessel, 6.1 percent; pipeline, 4.9 percent; and air, 4.0 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 85.0 percent of the total value of U.S.-NAFTA freight flows .
U.S.-Canada Freight From July 2015 to July 2016, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows fell 10.7 percent to $42.4 billion as all modes of transportation carried a lower value of U.S.-Canada freight than a year earlier.
Lower crude oil prices contributed to a year-over-year decrease in the value of freight moved between the U.S. and Canada. Crude oil is a large share of freight carried by pipeline and vessel, which were down 28.0 percent and 37.1 percent respectively year-over-year.
Trucks carried 59.7 percent of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried 15.7 percent followed by pipeline, 8.8 percent; air, 5.0 percent; and vessel, 3.7 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 84.3 percent of the value of total U.S.-Canada freight flows.
U.S.-Mexico Freight From July 2015 to July 2016, the value of U.S.-Mexico freight declined 9.2 percent to $41.3 billion as all modes of transportation except rail carried a lower value of U.S.-Mexico freight than a year earlier. Freight carried by rail increased 4.2 percent. Air decreased 8.2 percent and truck decreased by 10.1 percent. Pipeline and vessel freight value dropped by 12.3 percent and 18.2 percent respectively, both due mainly to lower crude oil prices.
Trucks carried 69.9 percent of the value of freight to and from Mexico. Rail carried 15.1 percent followed by vessel, 8.6 percent; air, 3.0 percent; and pipeline, 0.8 percent. The surface transportation modes of truck, rail and pipeline carried 85.8 percent of the value of total U.S.-Mexico freight flows.
See BTS Transborder Statistics 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 Statistics Release: July 2016 North American Freight Numbers
BTS Statistics Release: July 2016 Passenger Airline Employment Data
BTS 49-16 BTS Statistics Release: July 2016 Passenger Airline Employment DataU.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 4.3 percent more workers in July 2016 than in July 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. July was the highest monthly total (413,746) since June 2008 and was the 33rd consecutive month that U.S. scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent (FTE) employment exceeded the same month of the previous year. Month-to-month, the number of FTEs rose 0.3 percent from June to July. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site. The four network airlines that collectively employ two-thirds of the scheduled passenger airline FTEs reported 2.4 percent more FTEs in July 2016 than in July 2015. United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines increased FTEs from July 2015. July 2015 was the first month for which the two merged airlines submitted a combined report. Month-to-month, the number of network airline FTEs rose 0.2 percent from June to July. The network airlines employed 4.2 percent more FTEs in July 2016 than in July 2012. 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 11.3 percent more FTEs in July 2016 than in July 2015. Allegiant Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Virgin America, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways increased FTEs from July 2015. Month-to-month, the number of low-cost airline FTEs rose 0.8 percent from June to July. The six low-cost airlines employed 19.7 percent more FTEs in July 2016 than in July 2012. 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 3.3 percent more FTEs in July 2016 than in July 2015. Eight regional airlines – Compass Airlines, Mesa Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airlines, Endeavor Air, Envoy Air, GoJet Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and Horizon Air – increased FTEs from July 2015. The others reported decreases. Month-to-month, the number of regional airline FTEs rose 0.4 percent from June to July. The 12 regional carriers reporting in July 2016 employed 3.2 percent fewer FTEs in July 2016 than the 15 carriers reporting in July 2012. 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 statistical release for summary tables and additional data. Historical employment data can be found on the BTS web site.
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U.S. DOT ISSUES FEDERAL POLICY FOR SAFE TESTING AND DEPLOYMENT OF AUTOMATED VEHICLES
U.S. DOT ISSUES FEDERAL POLICY FOR SAFE TESTING AND DEPLOYMENT OF AUTOMATED VEHICLES Four-Part Policy Lays the Foundation for the Next Revolution in Roadway Safety WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Transportation is issuing Federal policy for automated vehicles, laying a path for the safe testing and deployment of new auto technologies that have enormous potential for improving safety and mobility for Americans on the road. "Automated vehicles have the potential to save thousands of lives, driving the single biggest leap in road safety that our country has ever taken," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "This policy is an unprecedented step by the federal government to harness the benefits of transformative technology by providing a framework for how to do it safely." The policy sets a proactive approach to providing safety assurance and facilitating innovation through four key parts. Vehicle performance guidance uses a 15-point Safety Assessment to set clear expectations for manufacturers developing and deploying automated vehicle technologies. Model state policy delineates the Federal and State roles for the regulation of highly automated vehicle technologies as part of an effort to build a consistent national framework of laws to govern self-driving vehicles. Finally, the policy outlines options for the further use of current federal authorities to expedite the safe introduction of highly automated vehicles into the marketplace, as well as discusses new tools and authorities the federal government may need as the technology evolves and is deployed more widely "Ninety-four percent of crashes on U.S. roadways are caused by a human choice or error," said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. "We are moving forward on the safe deployment of automated technologies because of the enormous promise they hold to address the overwhelming majority of crashes and save lives." The Federal Automated Vehicle Policy released today is a product of significant public input and stakeholder discussions, including two open public meetings this year and an open public docket for comments. The Department is also soliciting additional public comments for the next 60 days on the policy, which is published a twww.transportation.gov/AV. Through a series of next steps and in response to public comments, DOT intends to update the policy annually. "Public input has been essential to getting this right. There has been a strong call from state and local governments, industry, safety experts, mobility advocates, and average Americans to establish a clear policy for the deployment of automated vehicles on our roads," said Secretary Foxx. "There are huge upsides and significant challenges that come with automated vehicle technology, and we will continue the conversation with the public over the coming months and years as this technology develops." Moving beyond the traditional U.S. auto regulation approach of reactive, post-sale enforcement of safety standards, the policy is a proactive measure. A March 2016 study by DOT's Volpe notes that current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards do not directly address automated vehicle technologies. Those standards can take many years to develop and are traditionally only put into force after new technologies have made significant market penetration. Instead, the automated vehicle policy envisions greater transparency as DOT works with manufacturers to ensure that safety is appropriately addressed on the front-end of development. "New technologies developed in the 20th century, like seat belts and air bags, were once controversial but have now saved hundreds of thousands of American lives," Secretary Foxx said. "This is the first in a series of proactive approaches, including the release of a rule on Vehicle to Vehicle communications, which will bring lifesaving technologies to the roads safely and quickly while leaving innovators to dream up new safety solutions." More details about the policy may be found atwww.transportation.gov/AV. A summary of each section of the policy follows:
The primary focus of the policy is on highly automated vehicles, or those in which the vehicle can take full control of the driving task in at least some circumstances. Portions of the policy also apply to lower levels of automation, including some of the driver-assistance systems already being deployed by automakers today. Simultaneously with this policy, NHTSA is releasing a final enforcement guidance bulletin clarifying how its recall authority will apply to automated vehicle technologies. In particular, it emphasizes that semi-autonomous driving systems that fail to adequately account for the possibility that a distracted or inattentive driver-occupant might fail to retake control of the vehicle in a safety-critical situation may be defined as an unreasonable risk to safety and subject to recall. The full policy and additional materials can be found at www.transportation.gov/AV. Statements Regarding Federal Automated Vehicles Policy Colleen Sheehey-Church, National President, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) "MADD is proud to support the Department as it releases its policy on automated vehicles because we see a future where self-driving cars will save thousands of lives on our roads. A self-driving car can't get drunk. A self-driving car can't get distracted. And a self-driving car will follow the traffic laws and prioritize safety for pedestrians and bicyclists." Henry Claypool, Policy Director, Community Living Policy Center, University of California San Francisco "Automated vehicles hold enormous potential to improve the lives of millions of American like me who because of a disability, age, or other condition are not able to enjoy easy access to personal transportation. I applaud the department's commitment to making sure the benefits of automated vehicles will be shared by all." Gen. James T. Conway (Ret.), 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Co-Chair of SAFE's Energy Security Leadership Council "Through my decades of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, I have witnessed first-hand the staggering burden in both resources and lives that oil dependence places on our military. If deployed properly, driverless cars will significantly increase quality of life for all Americans through improved safety and accessibility of transportation—and will also reduce our over-dependence on petroleum. The Energy Security Leadership Council looks forward to reviewing NHTSA's recommendations, which are largely aligned with those we put forth in our National Strategy for Energy Security, to enable an 'innovation-first' approach that advances this critical technology." # # #
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BTS Releases 2nd Quarter 2016 Airline Financial Data
BTS 48-16 Advisory Monday, September 19, 2016 Contact: Nancy Wilochka Tel: 202-366-5128 BTS Releases 2nd Quarter 2016 Airline Financial Data
U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit of $4.6 billion in the second quarter of 2016, up from $3.1 billion in the first quarter of 2016 and down from $5.5 billion in the second quarter of 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today.
The 25 U.S. scheduled service passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit as a group for the 11th consecutive quarter.
In addition to the after-tax net profit of $4.6 billion based on net income reports, the scheduled service passenger airlines reported a $7.9 billion pre-tax operating profit in the second quarter of 2016, up from $5.6 billion in the first quarter of 2016 and down from $8.2 billion in the second quarter of 2015. The airlines reported a pre-tax operating profit - as a group - for the 20th consecutive quarter.
Net profit or loss and operating profit or loss are two different measures of airline financial performance. Net profit 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 April-June second-quarter of 2016 was $43.5 billion. Airlines collected $32.5 billion from fares, 74.6 percent of total second-quarter operating revenue.
Total operating expenses for all passenger airlines in the second-quarter of 2016 were $35.6 billion, of which fuel costs accounted for $5.6 billion, or 15.6 percent, and labor costs accounted for $12.2 billion, or 34.3 percent.
In the second quarter, passenger airlines collected a total of $1.1 billion in baggage fees, 2.5 percent of total operating revenue, and $755 million from reservation change fees, 1.7 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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BTS Statistics Release: June 2016 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
BTS 47-16 Advisory Thursday, September 15, 2016 Contact: Nancy Wilochka Tel: 202-366-5128 BTS Statistics Release: June 2016 U.S. Airline Traffic Data
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today that U.S. airlines' systemwide (domestic and international) scheduled service load factor – a measure of the use of airline capacity – rose to 83.6 percent in June, seasonally adjusted, rising for the third consecutive month (Table 1).
The seasonally-adjusted load factor rose from May (83.5) to June (83.6) because passenger travel grew faster (0.6 percent increase in Revenue Passenger-Miles (RPMs)) than system capacity (0.5 percent increase in Available Seat-Miles (ASMs)) (Tables 4, 7).
Load factor is a measure of the use of aircraft capacity that compares the system use, measured in RPMs as a proportion of system capacity, measured in ASMs.
Trends: Seasonally-adjusted Systemwide load factor (83.6) was down 1.1 points from the all-time seasonally-adjusted high (84.7) reached in October 2015. Domestic load factor (84.8) was down 1.4 points from the all-time seasonally-adjusted high (86.2) reached in October 2015. International load factor (80.9) was down 2.2 points from the all-time seasonally-adjusted high (83.1) reached in March 2013.
Systemwide RPMs (78.3 billion) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, up 0.6 percent from May 2016. Domestic RPM (55.3 billion) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, up 0.3 percent from May 2016. International RPMs (23.1 billion) were down 0.1 percent from the all-time seasonally-adjusted high (23.1 billion) reached in July 2015.
Systemwide ASMs (93.7 billion) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, up 0.5 percent from May 2016. Domestic ASMs (65.2 billion) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, up 0.6 percent from May 2016. International ASMs (28.5 billion) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, up 0.3 percent from May 2016.
Systemwide passenger enplanements (69.0 million) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, slightly exceeding the previous high in May 2016 by 4,000 passengers. Domestic passenger enplanements (60.2 million) were down 0.2 percent from the all-time seasonally-adjusted high (60.3 million) reached in May 2016. International passenger enplanements (8.8 million) reached a new seasonally-adjusted all-time high, up 1.1 percent from May 2016 .
Unadjusted Systemwide load factor (86.6) was down 0.4 points from the all-time June high (87.0) reached in 2013. Domestic load factor (87.6) was up 0.2 points from the all-time June high (87.4) reached in 2014. International load factor (84.5) was down 2.4 points from the all-time June high (86.9) reached in 2013.
Systemwide RPMs (86.4 billion) reached an all-time June high, up 4.5 percent from the previous high (82.7 billion) reached in 2015. Domestic RPMs (60.2 billion) reached an all-time June high, up 5.5 percent from the previous high (57.0 billion) reached in 2015. International RPMs (26.2 billion) reached an all-time June high, up 2.1 percent from the previous high (25.7 billion) reached in 2015.
Systemwide ASMs (99.7 billion) reached an all-time June high, up 4.2 percent from the previous high (95.7 billion) reached in 2015. Domestic ASMs (68.7 billion) reached an all-time June high, up 5.3 percent from the previous high (65.2 billion) reached in 2015. International ASMs (31.1 billion) reached an all-time June high, up 1.9 percent from the previous high (30.5 billion) reached in 2015.
Systemwide passenger enplanements (74.4 million) reached an all-time June high, up 4.5 percent from the previous high (71.3 million) reached in 2015. Domestic passenger enplanements (64.7 million) reached an all-time June high, up 4.7 percent from the previous high (61.8 million) reached in 2015. International passenger enplanements (9.7 million) reached an all-time June high, up 3.0 percent from the previous high (9.5 million) reached in 2015.
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. See Load factor, RPMs, ASMs and Passengers. For more historical data, see Traffic on the BTS website. See Seasonal Adjustment for methodology and additional explanation. See data for airline data since 2000 as well as seasonally-adjusted data for rail, transit, pipelines, trucking and waterways.
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