Skift Take

U.S. airlines still had a record number of enplanements, and some of their best months ever for passenger traffic during the first half of 2015 even as they continue limiting their capacity growth to protect fares and profits.

The January to June 2015 period not only saw a record number of passengers on U.S. airlines — each of those six months are included in the top 10 for all-time high passenger traffic across the country.

U.S. airlines had their busiest month ever in June, carrying 66 million domestic and international passengers and March, April and May all rank in the top five busiest months ever in U.S. aviation history. Considering domestic and international passengers separately, the first six months of 2015 were all still among the top 10 busiest for international passenger traffic and March, April, May and June were among the top 10 busiest for domestic passengers.

Though not dramatic increases, the first half of 2015 saw a record number of both domestic and international passengers traveling on U.S. airlines with some 341.5 million domestic and 50.4 million international passengers making trips. This represents a 3.7% year-over-year increase for domestic passenger traffic (more than 12 million more domestic passengers than the first half of 2014) and a 0.5% year-over-year increase for international passengers.

Top 10 Months with Highest Seasonally-Adjusted Domestic and International Passenger Enplanements (millions)

Rank Month Seasonally-Adjusted enplanements (millions)
1 June 2015 66.03
2 May 2015 65.9
3 April 2015 65.52
4 March 2015 65.26
5 August 2007 64.86
6 October 2007 64.69
7 January 2015 64.69
8 February 2015 64.63
9 September 2007 64.43
10 November 2007 64.4

Half-Year U.S. Airlines International Seasonally-Adjusted Passenger Enplanements (millions)

Month 2012 2013 2014 2015
January 7.74 7.95 8.31 8.4
February 7.82 8.08 8.29 8.37
March 7.87 8.02 8.35 8.37
April 7.86 7.99 8.4 8.38
May 7.82 8.06 8.39 8.43
June 7.79 8.13 8.37 8.5
Total: 46.9 48.23 50.11 50.4

Half-Year U.S. Airlines Domestic Seasonally-Adjusted Passenger Enplanements (millions)

Month 2012 2013 2014 2015
January 53.4 53.88 54.41 56.3
February 53.66 54.83 54.61 56.26
March 53.25 53.19 55.35 56.89
April 53.57 53.61 54.92 57.14
May 53.13 53.49 55.05 57.47
June 53.33 53.78 54.92 57.33
Total 320.34 322.78 329.26 341.5

Source: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics

smartphone

The Daily Newsletter

Our daily coverage of the global travel industry. Written by editors and analysts from across Skift’s brands.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: dot, flights, skiftstats

Photo credit: U.S. airlines had their busiest six months ever between January and June 2015. Pictured here are passengers walking through Los Angeles International Airport. Jonathan Alcorn / Reuters

Up Next

Loading next stories