BTS Statistics Release: 2016 Annual and 4th Quarter Airline Financial Data

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit of $13.5 billion in 2016, down from $24.8 billion in 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 seventh consecutive year.

In addition to the after-tax net profit of $13.5 billion based on net income reports, the scheduled service passenger airlines reported a $24.8 billion pre-tax operating profit in 2016, down from $28.0 billion in 2015. The airlines reported a pre-tax operating profit - as a group - for the eighth consecutive year.

Net profit or loss and operating profit or loss are two different measures of airline financial performance. Net profit or loss includes 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 the 25 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines in 2016 was $168.2 billion. Airlines collected $125.2 billion from fares, 74.5 percent of total 2016 operating revenue.

Total operating expenses for all passenger airlines in 2016 were $143.3 billion, of which fuel costs accounted for $22.4 billion, or 15.6 percent, and labor costs accounted for $49.7 billion, or 34.7 percent.

In 2016, passenger airlines collected a total of $4.2 billion in baggage fees, 2.5 percent of total operating revenue, and $2.9 billion 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.

Domestic

From domestic operations, U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit of $9.8 billion in 2016, down from $18.0 billion in 2015.

The 25 U.S. scheduled service passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit from domestic operations as a group for the fourth consecutive year.

In addition to the after-tax net profit of $9.8 billion based on net income reports, the scheduled service passenger airlines reported a $19.4 billion pre-tax operating profit from domestic operations in 2016, down from $20.8 billion in 2015. The airlines reported a pre-tax operating profit from domestic operations - as a group - for the eighth consecutive year.

International

The 17 U.S. scheduled passenger airlines that operate internationally reported an after-tax net profit of $3.8 billion in 2016 from their international operations, down from $6.8 billion in 2015.

The 17 U.S. scheduled service passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit from international operations as a group for the seventh consecutive year.

In addition to the after-tax net profit of $3.8 billion based on net income reports, the scheduled service passenger airlines reported a $5.5 billion pre-tax operating profit from international operations in 2016, down from $7.2 billion in 2015. The airlines reported a pre-tax operating profit from international operations - as a group - for the eighth consecutive year.

4th Quarter Results for All Scheduled Passenger Airlines

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit of $2.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, down from $3.8 billion in the third quarter of 2016 and down from $6.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The 25 U.S. scheduled service passenger airlines reported an after-tax net profit as a group for the 15th consecutive quarter.

In addition to the after-tax net profit of $2.0 billion based on net income reports, the scheduled service passenger airlines reported a $4.1 billion pre-tax operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2016, down from $7.2 billion in the third quarter of 2016 and down from $5.9 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015. The airlines reported a pre-tax operating profit - as a group - for the 23rd consecutive quarter.

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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