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ATA reports May-2011 increases in revenue, yield on recovering economy

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21-Jun-2011 The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, reported that passenger revenue1 rose 14.4 percent in May 2011 compared to the same month in 2010, marking the 17th consecutive month of revenue growth. The revenue data is based on a sample group of U.S. carriers.2

"Increased air travel spending in May leading up to the busy summer travel season reflects the recovering economy. A double-digit yield increase with improvements in U.S. domestic and international markets will help the industry cope with stubbornly high energy costs," said ATA Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich.

Systemwide passenger traffic, as measured by miles flown by paying passengers,3 rose 2.5 percent while the average price to fly one mile, also known as yield, rose 11.6 percent for the month.

U.S. domestic revenue grew nearly 14 percent, fueled in large part by an 11 percent yield increase

Trans-Atlantic revenue increased 13 percent from a year ago

Trans-Pacific revenue rose 12 percent as higher passenger yields offset a drop in the number of passengers following the Japanese earthquake and tsunami

Latin American/Caribbean revenue grew 26 percent as passenger yields rose 19 percent, the largest increase of any region

A sample of U.S. airlines4 saw spending on shipments of freight and mail rise 8 percent year over year (up 1 percent domestically and 11 percent internationally) in May 2011.

ABOUT ATA

Annually, commercial aviation helps drive more than $1 trillion in U.S. economic activity and nearly 11 million U.S. jobs. ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For more information about the airline industry, visit www.airlines.org and follow us on Twitter @airlinesassn.

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1 As defined by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, "revenues from the air transportation of passengers" in scheduled air service, not including amounts paid to change tickets, transport baggage or perform other types of ancillary services.

2 Based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Airways, including data for Air Midwest, Air Wisconsin, Allegheny, American Eagle, Atlantic Coast, Atlantic Southeast, Chautauqua, Comair, Continental Express, Executive, Freedom, Horizon, Mesa, Mesaba, Piedmont, Pinnacle, PSA, Shuttle America, SkyWest and Trans States. Data for all reporting U.S. airlines is available on a time-lagged basis from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.bts.gov).

3 Previously, ATA monthly press releases cited the number of passengers; to align more closely with the per-mile price statistics, ATA is now reporting traffic on a total mileage basis.

4 Based on data reported to ATA by Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United and US Airways. Data for all reporting U.S. airlines is available on a time-lagged basis from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.bts.gov).