An Aviation Resurgence? Maybe

Statistics are now available for U.S. air travel during the first six months of 2006. The good news is that passenger loads are up even though airlines trimmed their domestic capacity to focus on more popular and profitable international flights, which also witnessed higher passenger loads. Now for the bad news: because flights are fewer and fuller, passengers are enduring longer travel times. I imagine this situation owes not simply to delays and bumps, but also to longer connection waits.

Now for some trivia: American Airlines hauled the most passengers from January to June, while Southwest hauled the most domestic passengers. Atlanta's airport was the busiest overall, but Miami boasted the busiest international terminal.