Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
Instagram
[MM_Member_Decision isMember='true'] MY ACCOUNT LOG OUT [/MM_Member_Decision] [MM_Member_Decision isMember='false'] subscriber log in [/MM_Member_Decision]
Product was added to your cart

Cart

  • Home
  • Destinations
  • Tips & Tricks
    • On The Road
    • Saving Money
    • Gadgets & Tech
    • Health & Safety
  • Deals
  • News
  • Courses
  • Shop
  • Podcast
  • About
  • Contact

News

NAVIGATION The Voyage Report > News > The Crowded Skies: Record 823M Passengers Flew on U.S. Airlines in 2016

The Crowded Skies: Record 823M Passengers Flew on U.S. Airlines in 2016

March 18, 2017by Mark Albert
USDOT Passenger Flight Record Airlines
Annual passengers on all U.S. scheduled airlines (domestic and international) from 2003-2016; courtesy USDOT

 

WASHINGTON (TVR) – A record 823 million passengers flew on U.S. airlines last year and carriers also surpassed previous highs in revenue passenger miles and available seat miles, both key financial metrics, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced.

A total of 719 million passengers flew domestically, while 103.9 million flew internationally. Those combined totals from 2016 broke a record set the previous year, in 2015.

But while the number of people flying American carriers has never been higher, paradoxically, planes also flew with more empty seats, due to airlines increasing capacity after self-imposed restraint during the Great Recession, the USDOT numbers showed.

Passenger traffic in 2016 increased over the prior year by a healthy 3.1%, the USDOT said, up from the previous record of 798.2 million passengers.

Airports ‘Out of Date,’ Underfunded

But while airlines are seeing growth, America’s airports are straining to keep up with the swelling crowds.

CEOs from a diverse set of U.S. airports testified before Congress on March 1 that their facilities are starving for cash, imperiling the efficiency of country’s air network and leading to a “massive investment challenge.”

“None of us got to declare bankruptcy” unlike the airlines, testified Christina Cassotis, who oversees the Allegheny County Airport Authority, which operates Pittsburgh’s airport. Built to handle 32 million passengers a year, PIT now handles just eight million, a drop of 75%, she said.

“We need to modernize and upgrade costly inefficient, oversized, and out of date facilities – none of which is a priority in the current funding rules,” Cassotis told lawmakers on the House Subcommittee on Aviation.

Congress is currently debating a FAA reauthorization bill.

Woman burned by battery explosion on flight

–>READ: CEOs Tell Congress US Airports “Out of Date,” Underfunded

–>PHOTOS: Battery-Powered Headphone ‘Explosion’ During Flight Burns Passenger

-–>SIGN UP: For more news, get The Voyage Report newsletter for FREE

CruiseDirect - Cruise Price Guarantee - Book Now
Passengers waiting in line frustrated. aviation security

TSA Preparing for Record Spring Break Passengers

Meanwhile, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it is preparing for a “10-year high” in passengers traveling during Spring Break.

The TSA predicts it will screen 62 million passengers just in the month of March.

“As we approach the Spring Break travel period, security remains our top priority, and we are taking every measure, both seen and unseen, to protect the millions of air travelers,” TSA Acting Administrator Huban Gowadia said in a statement March 2.

Deal Alert–>READ: TSA: Spring Break Volume May Reach 10-Year High

-–>TIPS: 12 Money-Saving Ideas for Spring Break.

–>LEARN: What is the “Real ID” Act and How Will it Affect You

-–>LEARN: How We Save Hundreds Off International Flights

Sqm africa horiz 468x106 an

TRANSPARENCY NOTICE: No free or discounted travel, gifts, or services or the promise of any compensation were accepted from any of the places, merchants, or products included in this article at the time they were reviewed. The decision to travel somewhere or review something is made by The Voyage Report alone with no input from advertisers. We believe in credibility and integrity and cannot be bought.

Some of the links in this article may be referral (“affiliate”) links. This site receives compensation when users make a purchase using that link, which helps fund our unbiased coverage of the travel industry and produce more original content about more destinations for you, our users. Thank you for your support.

Got a Tip? Share it!

Mark Albert
Mark is a Peabody Award-winner who has reported in newsrooms across the country, most recently as a freelance correspondent at CBS News. He's traveled to 60 countries so far and plans to get to the rest—with a little luck.
Previous post FREE COUPON: 20% Off ‘How to Land An Airfare Deal’ Next post TVR Editor-in-Chief Mark Albert Appears on Twin Cities Live in Minneapolis/St. Paul

Got a Tip? Share it! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Travel should be enjoyable for everyone, so no inappropriate comments, please. For more, read the Responsible Use and Conduct section in our Terms of Service. Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks with your fellow travelers!

More News

  • National Park Fees Rise Hazel Mountain Overlook-Shenandoah Natl Park Higher National Park Fees Take Effect Today; Free Days Cut June 1, 2018
  • Great Wall of China Sonic Attack U.S. Warns of Sonic Attack in China; Similar to Cuba Assaults on Americans May 29, 2018
  • Memorial Day weekend beach pool sun water Worst Times for Memorial Day Weekend Travel; Top Congested Destinations May 24, 2018

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

  • On The Road
  • Saving Money
  • Gadgets & Tech
  • Health & Safety

Book Travel

Sign up for our Newsletter

Get the scoop on the latest news, money-saving tips, videos, deals, and more!(our on-time record is better than the airlines’)

We promise we don’t spam or sell your email address.
BE A CONTRIBUTOR
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
Instagram

[MM_Member_Decision isMember='false'] SUBSCRIBE SIGN IN [/MM_Member_Decision] [MM_Member_Decision isMember='true'] MY ACCOUNT SIGN OUT [/MM_Member_Decision]

The Voyage Report

Home About Us Contact Terms of Service Privacy Policy

Popular Destinations

  • France
  • Morocco
  • Peru
  • Israel
  • Bali

Travel Tips

On The Road Saving Money Tech & Gadgets Health & Safety

Explore

Deals News Podcast Courses Shop

Sign up for our Newsletter

Get the scoop on travel, including the latest news, money-saving tips, videos, deals, and more
Are you a passionate journalist? Become a Contributor.

VoyageReport.com © 2017-2018 The Travel Lede, LLC