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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Federal Aviation

Administration

FAA

Aerospace

Forecast

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Aviation Policy and Plans

Fiscal Years 2009 – 2025

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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR

The business of aviation has shown resiliency throughout its first hundred years. We expect that the next 

15 years will be yet one more example of how our industry will meet the challenges of the current economic 

situation, and how it will adapt to circumstances and lands on its feet. While it is clear from our 2009-2025 

forecast that this industry faces challenges, we are equally confident the future holds promise.

The downturn facing aviation mirrors the economic situation around the world. As the economy has 

dipped, so has the demand. But we expect that as economic growth returns, so too will passengers and 

operations. Trends suggest an industry continuing to change over the next several years, with international 

markets growing faster than domestic markets. In addition, we expect the numbers of larger regional jets 

flying to increase while most of the smaller regional jets are retired from the fleet. 

In 2009, we expect sizeable declines in both domestic and international capacity as carriers respond to 

the impacts of the economic downturn. The size of aircraft in domestic markets will fall slightly as airlines 

continue to adjust their operations to better match demand.

Aviation finds itself in economic waters that no one would have predicted a decade ago. To be sure, 

the business climate is being influenced by several factors. Oil price volatility, economic uncertainty, 

congestion concerns and environmental issues are challenging the entire industry. In the long run, 

commercial aviation demand at FAA facilities is projected to grow as the economy recovers and air carrier 

operations continue to expand. Equally true in the longer term, the demand for general aviation products 

and services will be on the upswing. With new business jets and products like light sport aircraft, it is 

expected to continue to increase in the future.

With all of this as context, the FAA remains committed to make sure the system can keep pace with 

the long-term growth and activity that are coming our way. We’re taking new approaches to airspace, 

deploying new and better technology, and using advanced procedures to keep things moving. Efficiency 

and environmental stewardship will shape aviation as we advance to NextGen. In short, we are taking the 

lessons of the summers of 2007 and 2008 to heart. 

This year marks the FAA’s 34th annual Aviation Forecast Conference. Your continued participation will 

make it a success.

Lynne Osmus

Acting Administrator
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE

Forecast Highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Review of 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

U.S. Economic Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

World Economic Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Commercial Aviation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

World Travel Demand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

U.S. Travel Demand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Commercial Air Carriers - Passenger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Commercial Air Carriers - Cargo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

U.S. Commercial Air Carriers 2008 Financial Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

U.S. Commercial Air Carriers 2008 Aircraft Fleet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

General Aviation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

FAA Workload. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009 - 2025. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Economic Forecasts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

World Economy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Aviation Traffic and Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Commercial Aviation Forecasts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Domestic Markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

International Markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Air Cargo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Commercial Aircraft Fleet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

General Aviation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

FAA Workload Forecasts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

FAA and Contract Towers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

En Route Centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

UNmanned Aircraft Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Commercial Space Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Risks to the Forecast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Appendix I: Forecast Accuracy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Appendix II: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Forecast Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS 

2009-2025

The FAA continues to forecast long term aviation growth, despite global economic conditions. Since 2000, 

U.S. airlines have dealt with the impacts of 9/11, heightened concerns about pandemics, the bankruptcy 

of four network carriers, record high fuel prices, and the most serious economic downturn since the Great 

Depression. In spite of these challenges, the number of passengers traveling continues to grow over 

the long term, demonstrating the value of air transportation to the public. In last year’s forecast the FAA 

predicted for the U.S. commercial aviation industry to carry one billion passengers by 2016. We now 

believe the industry will reach this mark in 2021. 

The 2009 forecast for commercial aviation calls for a sharp decline in activity in the near term, with a return 

to growth over the long term. The level of activity and demand in the long term, however, is not expected 

to snap back to levels published in the previous FAA forecast. The most significant factor preventing 

recovery to prior forecast levels is the state of the economy, both domestic and worldwide. In the U.S., the 

National Bureau of Economic Research reports the U.S. economy has been in recession since December 

2007, with economists speculating this may be the deepest recession since the end of World War II. 

Indications are the global economy is not fairing any better. With 8 of the world’s top 10 economies1

 in 

recession as of January 2009, the global economy is poised to perform worse than any other period during 

the past 60 years.

System capacity in available seat miles (ASMs) – the overall yardstick for how busy aviation is both 

domestically and internationally – will drop 6.7 percent this year, after posting a 1.2 percent increase during 

2008, and then grow at an average of 3.8 percent per year through 2025. In the domestic market, capacity 

drops 9.0 percent in 2009 to mark the largest percentage decline in available seat miles since deregulation 

of the industry in 1978. Mainline carrier capacity will decline 9.5 percent (in comparison, mainline carriers 

reduced capacity by 8.3 percent in the aftermath of 9/11) as both low-cost carriers2

 and network carriers3

become smaller. For the regional carriers, domestic capacity will drop 5.5 percent from 2008 levels - a 

turnaround from recent periods of reduced air travel demand which saw regional capacity expand as 

mainline carriers transferred capacity to their lower-cost regional code-share partners. Commercial air 

carrier domestic revenue passenger miles (RPMs) are forecast to fall 8.9 percent in 2009, and then grow at 

an average of 3.4 percent per year through 2025; enplanements will fall 7.8 percent for the year, and then 

grow at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent for the remainder of the forecast.

Air traffic will not rise to prior forecast levels even when the economy recovers because of the absence of 

significant price cuts as measured by real yield4

 in the near term. Following previous downturns (e.g. the 

recessions in 1991 and 2001) carriers stimulated passenger demand by reducing fares sharply. The industry’s 

response to the current economic downturn is to better match supply (seats) and demand (passengers) by 

modestly cutting fares and dramatically reducing capacity. With no evidence of pent up demand, we do not 

anticipate a return to previously forecasted passenger levels even when recovery takes hold.

1 Ranked by Gross Domestic Product for Calendar Year 2008 (United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Canada).

2 Allegiant Air, American Trans Air, America West Airlines, AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Skybus Airlines, Southwest Airlines, 

Spirit Airlines, USA3000, and Virgin America Airlines.

3 Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways.

4 Calculated by dividing passenger revenues by revenue passenger miles and adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. Yield is the 

revenue an airline receives for every passenger mile travelled and is often used as a proxy for airfare.
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

6

The average size of domestic aircraft is expected to decline by 0.7 seats in FY 2009 to 120.1 seats. 

Average seats per aircraft for mainline carriers are projected to fall by 0.8 seats as network carriers continue 

to reconfigure their domestic fleets. While demand for 70-90 seat aircraft continues to increase, we expect 

the number of 50 seat regional jets in service to fall, increasing the average regional aircraft size in 2009 by 

0.9 seats to 53.7 seats per mile. Passenger trip length in domestic markets will decrease by 10.5 miles this 

year, largely due to the impact of capacity realignment. 

The downturn in the economy has also dampened the near-term prospects for the general aviation industry. 

Longer-term, we see growth in business aviation demand driven by a growing U.S. and world economy. 

As the fleet grows, the number of general aviation hours flown is projected to increase an average of 1.8 

percent a year through 2025.

The shaky global economy that took hold in the latter part of 2008 is expected to put a squeeze on 

air travel demand through 2009, although falling oil prices will offset some of the decline in demand, 

allowing U.S. carriers to be profitable in 2009. To navigate the volatile operating environment, carriers 

are attempting to increase revenues per customer (through increased fares and/or additional fees) while 

driving down their costs by implementing capacity cutbacks (by reducing flights and/or gauge of aircraft, 

delaying deliveries of newer aircraft, and/or grounding older aircraft). Over the long term, we see a 

competitive and profitable industry characterized by increasing demand for air travel and air fares growing 

more slowly than inflation.
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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

REVIEW OF 2008

Each passing month of 2008 saw the light on consumer confidence dim as energy prices spiked, housing 

foreclosures climbed, credit tightened, and unemployment surged. This chain of events resulted in less 

than expected growth in air travel demand for the year. In 20085

 system revenue passenger miles (RPMs) 

grew 0.7 percent as enplanements fell 1.0 percent. Commercial air carrier domestic enplanements were 

down 1.5 percent while international enplanements grew 3.3 percent to a record 77.8 million. The systemwide load factor fell 0.4 points from its all-time high in 2007 to be 79.5 percent. Domestic enplanement 

market share for low-cost carriers shrank in 2008 while network and regional carrier share increased. 

The network carrier share of domestic enplanements grew 1.1 points to 49.2 percent while regional 

carrier market share rose 0.5 points to 23.1 percent. The decline in share for low-cost carriers is partially 

attributed to the cessation of operations by ATA and Skybus.

Systemwide real yield increased 1.6 percent during 2008, but decelerating demand coupled with 

accelerating costs led to operating losses for the commercial air carrier industry after two years of 

operating profitably. Industry operating losses mounted in the first part of the year due to costs from 

soaring fuel prices and totaled $2.0 billion by year end, compared to a $10.1 billion operating profit posted 

for 2007. The network carriers reported operating losses of $5.1 billion, with six of the seven carriers 

reporting losses. The remaining passenger carriers reported operating profits of $692.5 million, while the 

cargo carriers reported operating profits of $2.4 billion. The net loss for U.S. commercial air carriers in 

2008 is $18.5 billion. Much of the loss stems from merger related charges at Delta Air Lines and Northwest 

Airlines. These two carriers recorded goodwill impairment charges totaling $10.0 billion during the second 

quarter, accounting for over 50 percent of the net loss for the year. Cargo carriers continued to report 

strong results with net profits of $1.3 billion.

The market for general aviation products and services showed mixed results in 2008. Worldwide shipments 

declined for the first time since 2002 (down 6.7 percent) but billings were up 14.4 percent compared to 

2007. Piston aircraft shipments fell 20.7 percent while turbine aircraft shipments increased by 16.7 percent. 

The increase in shipments and billings seen in the jet fleet was stimulated by growth in the U.S. and world 

economy. Despite the higher shipments and billings, general aviation activity fell 5.6 percent in 2008.

Total operations at FAA and contract tower airports fell 4.3 percent as increases in air carrier operations 

were offset by declines in other user categories and were at their lowest levels since 1985. Although the 

number of flights fell, the combination of fleet mix changes with more regional and business jets in the 

nation’s skies and carriers consolidate their operations in their large hubs, resulting in increased workload 

due to the continued growth in the complexity of the airspace FAA must manage. 

5 All stated years and quarters for U.S. economic and U.S. air carrier traffic and financial data and forecasts are on a fiscal year (FY) basis 

(October 1 through September 30). All stated years and quarters for international economic and world traffic and financial data are on a 

calendar year (CY) basis, unless otherwise stated.
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

8

U.S. Economic Activity

The U.S. economy slowed in FY 2008, in a year that was marked by large contrasts. After growing 2.1 

percent in FY 2007, growth in U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 1.9 percent in fiscal year 2008. 

However, there were wide variations in the seasonally adjusted quarterly growth rates as they ranged from 

a high of 2.8 percent in the third quarter to a low of -0.5 percent in the fourth quarter. The first part of the 

year was dominated by the unprecedented rise in the price of oil that led to dampened consumer spending. 

Partly due to the slowdown in consumer spending, growth in the economy was tepid in the early part of 

the year, prompting Congress to pass a stimulus plan that included individual tax rebates. The rebates and 

subsequent jump in spending by consumers was the primary cause of the 2.8 percent growth recorded in 

the third quarter. By the fourth quarter, the impact of the rebates had waned and consumers retrenched, 

leading to the fall in output.

According to the consumer price index (CPI), prices rose 4.4 percent in FY 2008, as surging oil prices made 

all items in the economy more expensive. The 4.4 percent rise in the CPI in FY 2008 was the highest since 

1991, and was 2.1 percentage points higher than in FY 2007.

Oil prices, as measured by the U.S. Refiners’ Acquisition Cost, rose 67.6 percent in FY 2008 to $101.53. 

Higher prices were spurred by strong global demand for oil, concerns about potential supply disruptions, 

and also the actions of speculators in the oil market. However, the rise in the average price for the year 

fails to tell the whole story. Oil prices, which averaged $73.54 in September 2007, rose rapidly to peak at 

$129.03 in July 2008, dropped to $98.91 by September, and continued to fall through the first quarter of FY 

2009 to $39.82 in December. 

U .S. G R O SS D O M E S T IC PRODU C T

SE ASO NA L L Y ADJ UST E D ANNUAL G R O W T H

F Y 2007 AND 2008 B Y Q UA R T E R

0.9

2.8

(0.5)

4.8

0.0

4.8

(0.2)

1.5

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

2006-04 2007-01 2007-02 2007-03 2007-04 2008-01 2008-02 2008-03

F iscal Year 2007 F isca l Year 2008

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

World Economic Activity

As the world’s largest economy, the U.S continues to have a prominent role in world economic growth. In 

recent years much had been written about the “decoupling” of the world economy from the U.S. economy. 

However, events in 2008 showed that the world and U.S. economies were very much linked together. What 

started out to be a U.S. slowdown in the beginning of 2008, turned into a full-fledged global slowdown by 

the end of the year. In calendar year 2008, as has been the case since 2000, U.S. GDP growth lagged that 

of the rest of the world, with U.S. and world economic growth reaching 1.3 and 2.3 percent, respectively. 

GDP growth in the rest of the world was driven by the growth in Asian and Latin American markets.

On a calendar year basis, Canadian GDP growth lagged that of the U.S. in 2008, with growth of 0.7 percent. 

The combined economies of the Asian and Far East nations grew by 3.6 percent in 2008, down from 5.9 

U .S . AND W O R L D G DP

C AL E NDAR Y E A R S 2002 - 2008

3.6

2.0

4.0

3.5

2.8

2.5

1.3

2.9

2.0

1.6

3.8 4.1

2.3

2.7

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

U.S. World

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH

U.S. REFINERS ’ ACQ UISITION COST

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

2002-01 2003-01 2004-01 2005-01 2006-01 2007-01 2008-01

$ PER BARREL
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

10

percent a year earlier. This region includes the world’s second largest economy, Japan (down 0.1 percent), 

and the world’s most vibrant economy, China (up 9.2 percent). The combined economies of the Europe/

Middle East/Africa nations rose just 1.7 percent in 2008, as solid growth in Eastern Europe (up 4.7 percent) 

offset slow growth in Eurozone6

 countries (up 0.9 percent). GDP in Latin America grew by 3.7 percent 

with Brazil up 5.1 percent while Mexico grew only 1.3 percent as the U.S. economic slowdown resulted in 

slower economic growth in Mexico. 

Commercial Aviation

Commercial aviation hit a slippery slope during 2008. Unpredictable jet fuel prices and a softening global 

economy hurt the industry. After posting its first net profit since the 9/11 terror attacks in 2007, the U.S. 

industry posted a net loss in 2008, with a similar outcome predicted for foreign carriers. With the U.S., 

Europe and Japan reportedly in a recession, global industry net losses for calendar year 2008 are expected 

to be $5.0 billion, with a vast majority ($3.9 billion, excluding “fresh-start” accounting items) absorbed 

by the U.S. carriers.7

 U.S. airlines were able to implement moderate fare increases during 2008 through 

successful capacity management despite increasing uncertainty in their operating environment, tempering 

the impact of the downturn.

World Travel Demand

Based on data compiled by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), world air carriers 

transported 2.26 billion passengers (up 6.4 percent) a total of 4.2 trillion revenue passenger kilometers 

(RPKs) (up 6.7 percent) in CY 2007. Although worldwide traffic results are not available for full year 2008, 

ICAO estimates that worldwide RPKs and passengers increased 1.8 and 0.8 percent, respectively.8

W O R L D P ASSE NG E R D E M AND 

C ALEND AR Y E AR S 2002 - 2008

0.8

14.1

1.8

11.7

6.4 7.1

-0.1

5.3

3.2

6.7

5.9

8.0

0.5

1.8

-4 .0

0 .0

4 .0

8 .0

1 2 .0

1 6 .0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008E

P assengers RPKs

Source: 2008 World Estimate – ICAO, December 2008 ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH

6 Austria, Belgium, Cypress, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, 

Slovakia, Slovenia

7 IATA Financial Forecast, December 2008.

8 ICAO News Release, December 18, 2008.
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FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Statistics from the Association of European Airlines (AEA) show that passengers decreased 1.5 percent and 

RPKs increased 1.2 percent in CY 2008. Capacity, as measured by available seat kilometers (ASKs), was 

up 3.0 percent during the same time period. For the year, AEA carrier traffic was strongest in the MiddleEast (8.2 percent), followed by the South Atlantic (7.5 percent), and North Africa regions (6.6 percent). 

Traffic growth in the North Atlantic region was minimal, up 0.2 percent. 

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported a decrease of 1.0 percent in RPKs on a 1.7 percent 

increase in ASKs for 2008. Passengers were down 1.8 percent during the same period.

In CY 2008, U.S. and foreign flag carriers will transport an estimated 153.9 million passengers between the 

United States and the rest of the world, a 2.7 percent increase over 2007. Growth in the Atlantic market 

was solid (up 7.0 percent) and weak in both the Latin America market (up 1.4 percent) and the Canadian 

transborder market (up 0.7 percent). Passenger growth fell in the Asia/Pacific market (down 1.7 percent) as 

declines in Japan and Australia offset gains elsewhere.

ASIA PACIFIC CARRIER S C APACITY AND T RAFFIC

CALENDAR YEAR 2008

-9.0

-6.0

-3.0

0.0

3.0

6.0

9.0

J F M A M J J A S O N D

ASKS RPKS

Sour ce: Association of Asia P acific Air lines (AAPA) % CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR

EUROP EAN C ARRIERS C AP ACITY AND TRAFFIC

C ALE NDAR YEAR 2008

-6.0

-3.0

0.0

3.0

6.0

9.0

J F M A M J J A S O N D

ASK S R PK S

Sour ce: Associa tion of E uropean Air lines (AEA) % CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

12

Worldwide air cargo demand was weak in 2008.9 According to ICAO, worldwide freight tonnes 

increased about 1.1 percent in 2008 compared to growth of 4.5 percent in 2007. AEA member carriers 

FTKs were down 2.8 percent for the year while AAPA member carriers FTKs were down 6.1 percent for 

the same period.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports world air carriers (including U.S. airlines) are 

expected to register an operating profit of $1.1 billion for 2008. Escalating fuel prices and the collapse of 

the U.S. housing market and the resulting credit crunch led to deteriorating financial results in 2008, with 

IATA estimating global airline industry net losses to be $5.0 billion for the year. Based on financial data 

compiled by ICAO, between 2000 and 2007 world airlines produced cumulative operating profits of 

$53 billion and net losses of $18 billion.10

9 ICAO News Release, December 18, 2008. 

10 IATA Financial Forecast, December 2008.

W O R L D A IR C AR G O DE M AN D

C AL E NDAR Y E A R S 2002 – 2008*

2.7

5.1

4.5

1.1

9.4

9.0

6.7

4.7

5.5

7.2

5.5

2.5

10.2

0.0

3.0

6.0

9.0

12.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

T onne s R T K S

Sour ce: ICAO

*RTK gr owth in 2008 was not available. ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH

T O T AL P ASSE NG E R S T O /F R O M T H E U NIT E D ST A T E S

U .S . A ND F O R E I G N F L A G C AR R IER S

C AL E NDAR YE A R S 2002 – 2008

43.4 4 4.6 4 8 .9 4 9 .9 4 9 .8 53.3 5 7 .0

36.9 3 9.1 4 2 .7 4 4 .2 4 7 .1 48.6 4 9 .3

22.3 2 0.2

2 3 .8 2 5 .1 2 5 .6 26.3 2 5 .9

17.6 1 6.9

1 8 .5 1 9 .7 2 1 .0 21.5 2 1 .7

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Atlantic L. America P acific Canada

Millions of Passengers
13

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

U.S. Travel Demand

By year end FY 2008, the U.S. commercial aviation industry consisted of 19 scheduled mainline air carriers 

that use large passenger jets (over 90 seats) and 67 regional carriers that use smaller piston, turboprop, 

and regional jet aircraft (up to 90 seats) to provide connecting passengers to the larger carriers. Mainline 

and regional carriers provide domestic and international passenger service between the U.S. and foreign 

destinations, although regional carrier international service is confined to border markets in Canada, 

Mexico, and the Caribbean. During 2008 two passenger carriers started scheduled operations (Air Choice 

One and Wings Air), while ten discontinued operations.11 In addition, two carriers merged — Delta Air Lines 

and Northwest Airlines. Twenty-three all-cargo carriers were providing domestic and/or international air 

cargo service at the end 2008 — three cargo carriers ceased operations during the year (Focus Air Cargo, 

Gemini Air Cargo, Kitty Hawk Air Cargo) and two merged (Southern Air and Cargo 360).

Three distinct trends have occurred over the past several years that have helped shape today’s U.S. 

commercial air carrier industry: (1) convergence of the network and low cost carrier business models; (2) 

rapid growth by network carriers into international markets; and (3) transformation of the domestic air 

carrier fleet.

Commercial Air Carriers — Passengers

After moderate growth in 2007, U.S. commercial air carriers posted sluggish gains in capacity and traffic 

during 2008. System (the sum of domestic plus international) capacity rose 1.2 percent to 1.0 trillion ASMs 

while RPMs grew 0.7 percent to 827.4 billion. During the same period system-wide passenger growth 

declined 1.0 percent, the first year-over-year decline in passengers since 2002, and only the second decline 

since the 1991 recession.

The fall in passenger demand can be characterized as a one-two punch. The first punch came early in the 

year with an unprecedented rise in fuel prices. To recoup the increasing costs of fuel, carriers curtailed 

W O R L D AIR C AR R IE R PROF IT /L O SS

C ALEND AR Y E AR S 2002 - 2008

$19.7

-$5.6 -$4.1 -$4.8 -$5.0

$15.0

-$1.4

$3.3 $4.3

$1.1

-$0.1

-$11.3

-$7.5

$12.9

-$ 1 5

-$ 1 0

-$ 5

$ 0

$ 5

$ 1 0

$ 1 5

$ 2 0

$ 2 5

2002 200 3 2 004 2005 200 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8

O per a ting N et

Source: 2008 World Estimate: IATA, December 2008; 2002 -2007 ICAO BILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS

11 Carriers ceasing operations in 2008: Mainline – Aloha Airlines, ATA Airlines, EOS Airlines, Skybus Airlines; Regional – Air Midwest, 

Big Sky Airlines, Boston-Maine Airways, L.A.B. Flying Service, Skyway Airline, Vintage Props and Jets
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

14

capacity growth and raised fares, resulting in reduced passenger volume. The second blow came from 

a deepening recession and growing unemployment. As consumer confidence faded, demand for air 

services by business and leisure travelers alike weakened. For the year, mainline carrier passenger growth 

contracted 1.5 percent while regional carrier growth was 0.7 percent. In the domestic market mainline 

passengers fell 2.2 percent from 2007 levels while passenger growth in the international market was up for 

the sixth consecutive year (up 3.5 percent).

In 2008, system load factor declined for the first time since 2001 as trip length and seats per aircraft mile 

climbed. The load factor fell 0.4 points to 79.5 percent, down from the all-time high posted in 2007 (79.9 

percent), and trip length grew 18.8 miles to 1,092.5 miles. For the third consecutive year, seats per aircraft 

mile increased (up 1.4 seats) to 138.0 seats per aircraft mile. Mainline carriers continued to shift wide-body 

flying from domestic to international routes while regional carriers phased out some smaller regional jet (50 

seats and below) operations.

U.S. C OM MERC IAL AIR CAR RIER S

SYSTEM RPM S AND ENPL ANEM ENT S

FISCAL YEARS 2002 - 2008

0.7

7.0

0.4

(8.2)

(1.0)

3.4

2.4

7.5

2.7

3.9

2.6

10.6

7.4

(8.6)

-12.0

-9.0

-6.0

-3.0

0.0

3.0

6.0

9.0

12.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

ENPLANEMENTS RPMS

Sour ce: DO T Form 41 & F orm 298C ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH

U.S. CO M M ERC IAL AIR C AR RIER S

SYSTEM ASM S & AIR CRAFT O PERATIONS

F ISCAL YEARS 2002 - 2008

1. 2 2.7

(0.4) (0.2)

7.0

(8.6)

5.3

3.8

(3.3)

0.2

(5.5)

(2.1)

0.0

3.6

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

ASMS OPERATIONS

Sour ce: ASM s - D OT Forms 41 & For m 298C; O per ations – FAA AT ADS/O PSNET Da ta ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
15

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Domestic Passenger Markets

Domestic capacity (50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) was down 0.4 percent in 2008 

following a 1.7 percent increase in 2007, and departures decreased by 2.3 percent. After growing 2.0 

percent in the first half of 2008, ASMs dropped 1.0 percent in the third quarter, and 4.5 percent in the final 

quarter. Mainline carrier capacity was down 1.2 percent for the year, while regional carrier capacity was up 

5.3 percent. At the end of 2008, domestic ASMs were 3.1 percent above pre-9/11 levels while departures 

remained 6.8 percent below.

Domestic passenger enplanements and RPMs fell at a faster rate than ASMs in 2008. Mainline carrier 

enplanements were down 2.2 percent for the year while regional carrier enplanements were up 0.7 

percent, marking the slowest rate of growth posted by regional carriers since 1995 (0.4 percent growth). 

Enplanement growth was moderate in the first half of the year, up 1.6 percent, before losing steam and 

dropping 2.8 and 4.8 percent in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. 

U .S . C O M M E R C IA L C AR R IER S

D O M E ST IC C AP AC IT Y

F ISC A L Y E A R 2008

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

O ct Nov D ec J a n F eb M a r Apr M a y J un J ul Aug Sep

A SM s Depa r tu r es Sou r ce: DOT F or m 41

Year/Year % Change

U .S . C O M M E R C IA L C AR R IER S

D O M E S T IC T R AFFIC

F ISC A L Y E A R 2008

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

O ct Nov Dec J a n F eb M a r Ap r M a y J u n J u l A u g S ep

R PM s Enplanements

Sou r ce: DOT F or m 41

Year/Year % Change
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

16

Similar to passengers, domestic RPMs dropped faster than ASMs with domestic RPMs down 1.0 percent 

in 2008. After growing at a moderate rate of 2.4 percent rate during the first half of the year, traffic fell 2.3 

percent in the third quarter, and dropped dramatically for the final quarter of the year (down 5.7%). For the 

year, mainline carrier RPM growth was down 1.5 percent, while regional carrier growth was up 2.7 percent. 

Domestic carrier load factor dropped for the first time in six years to be 79.3 percent, down from the alltime high of 79.8 percent in 2007. Mainline carrier load factor was 80.2 percent, 0.2 points lower than the 

previous year, while regional carrier load factor dropped 1.8 points to 73.6 percent. 

Since 2000, total domestic capacity has increased only 3.1 percent. Mainline carriers have shrunk their 

domestic capacity by 5.4 percent with cutbacks by network carriers more than offsetting the growth of lowcost carriers. Making up the shortfall from network carrier capacity cuts during this time are the regional 

carriers. This segment of the industry has greatly increased capacity since 2000 (up 156.6 percent). During 

the same period, mainline carrier RPMs have increased 6.5 percent, even with capacity reductions, while 

enplanements have declined by 7.0 percent. In comparison, regional carrier RPMs and enplanements 

have increased 217.4 and 97.4 percent, respectively. As a result, mainline carrier domestic capacity share 

has fallen from 94.7 percent in 2000 to 86.9 percent in 2008, while their share of RPMs has dropped from 

95.5 percent to 87.8 percent during the same period. Regional carrier enplanement share almost doubled 

during the same period, going from 12.4 percent in 2000 to 23.2 percent in 2008.

Each year between 2000 and 2007, the percentage share of domestic mainline capacity operated between 

network and low cost carriers has narrowed, signaling a trend toward convergence of their respective 

business models. The trend paused in 2008 with the network portion of mainline capacity increasing 2.3 

points, going from 65.7 percent to 68.0 percent, while low cost carrier share shrank. This turnabout is 

partially attributed to the cessation of operations by two low cost carriers during the year (American Trans 

Air and Skybus Airlines). Prior to 2008, low-cost carrier capacity share rose from 17.0 percent in 2000 to 

31.8 percent in 2007.

U.S. COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS

DOMESTIC ENPLANEMENTS BY CARRIER GROUP

FISCAL YEARS 2002 – 2008

M a in lin e R eg io n a ls

Sou r ce: DOT F or m 41 & F or m 298C

486.5 482.8 502.6 523.1 516.2 533. 9 522.3

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

MILLIONS

88.6 105.0

125.9

146.4 152.2 156. 2 157.4
17

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

International Passenger Markets

Continuing the recent trend of rapid growth by network carriers into international markets, U.S. carriers 

posted a fourth consecutive year of gains in international capacity and traffic in 2008. U.S. carrier ASMs 

and departures were up 5.8 and 1.0 percent, respectively, in 2008. ASM growth was higher in the first half 

of the year (up 6.9 percent) and then moderated a bit during the second half of the year (up 4.8 percent). 

ASMs increased in all world travel regions—up 11.4, 0.9, and 1.1 percent, respectively, in Atlantic, Latin 

American, and Asia/Pacific markets. Strong growth in the Atlantic region was assisted by the European 

Union-United States Open Skies Agreement which became effective on March 30, 2008.

International RPMs were up 5.3 percent and passenger enplanements were up 3.3 percent in 2008 with 

faster growth recorded in the first half of the year (up 7.6 percent for the first half versus 3.5 percent during 

the second half for RPMs; up 6.1 percent versus 1.1 percent for enplanements). The Atlantic market 

posted the strongest gain, with RPMs up 10.4 percent and enplanements up 8.2 percent. RPMs and 

enplanements grew 4.0 and 2.7 percent, respectively, in the Latin American market, while RPMs dropped 

1.7 percent as enplanements fell 3.2 percent in the Pacific market.

U.S. COM MERC IAL C ARRIERS

INTER NATIONAL TRAFF IC

F ISCAL YEAR 2008

-6.0

-3.0

0.0

3.0

6.0

9.0

O ct Nov Dec J an F eb Mar Apr May J un J ul Aug Sep

R P M s E n pla ne m en ts Sour ce: DO T Form 41

Year/Year % Change

U.S. COMMERCIAL CARRIERS

INTERNATIONAL CAPACITY

FISCAL YEAR 2008

-8.0

-4.0

0.0

4.0

8.0

12.0

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

AS M s De pa rt ur es Sour ce: DO T Form 41 Year/Year % Change
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

18

The international load factor dropped 0.3 percentage points to 79.9 percent from its all-time high of 80.2 percent 

in 2007. Load factor increased in the Latin America market (up 2.4 points to 79.3 percent) and fell in the Pacific 

market (down 2.3 points to 80.6 percent) and in the North Atlantic market (down 0.7 points to 80.0 percent).

In 2008, 50 percent of the passengers flying abroad on U.S. flag carriers traveled to the Latin America 

market. The remaining 50 percent of international passengers was split between the Atlantic market (33 

percent) and the Pacific market (17 percent).

Commercial Air Carriers—Cargo

Air cargo traffic contains both domestic and international revenue freight/express and mail. The demand 

for air cargo is a derived demand resulting from economic activity. Cargo moves in the bellies of passenger 

aircraft and in dedicated all-cargo aircraft, on both scheduled and nonscheduled service.

U.S. air carriers flew 38.9 billion revenue ton miles (RTMs) in 2008, down 2.8 percent from 2007, with 

domestic cargo RTMs declining by 9.5 percent (14.3 billion) and international RTMs increasing by 1.7 

percent (24.6 billion). The decline in domestic RTMs and the sluggish growth in international RTMs reflect 

many factors including the recession in the U.S. and other world regions, strong price competition from 

alternative shipping modes, and volatile oil prices. 

Air cargo RTMs flown by all-cargo carriers was 71.3 percent of total RTMs in 2008, with passenger carriers 

flying the rest, or 28.7 percent of the total. Total RTMs flown by all-cargo carriers declined 4.1 percent in 

2008, from 29.0 billion to 27.8 billion. Total RTMs flown by passenger carriers were 11.2 billion in 2008 (up 

0.9 percent). 

On August 3, 2007, “Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007” was signed into law. Section 

1602 of this Act states that air cargo placed on passenger aircraft will receive the same level of screening 

as passenger-checked baggage. The legislation calls for the establishment of a system by 2010 that will 

require 100 percent inspection of cargo transported on passenger aircraft. TSA is developing a system to 

physically screen 50 percent of air cargo originating in the Unites States carried on passenger aircraft by 

February 2009 and 100 percent by August 2010. It is anticipated the law will lead to increased cost and 

time requirements for shipment of cargo on passenger air carriers.

U.S. C OM MERC IAL AIR CAR RIER S

C AR G O R EVENUE TON M ILES

FISCAL YEARS 2002 – 2008 *

16 .3 16 .1 15 .7 15 .8 14 .3

14.8

18 .5

20 .1 23 .1 24 .0 24 .2 24 .6

15 .0 13.0

0

10

20

30

40

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2 007 2008

Dom estic I n ter nation a l

* Note: F iscal years 2003 and beyond include changes in r epor ting r equir ements BILLIONS
19

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

U.S. Commercial Air Carriers 2008 Financial Results

After posting a net profit in 2007 ($5.8 billion), financial results for the U.S. commercial airline industry 

(including regional carriers) turned downward in 2008 as record high oil prices and falling passenger 

demand took their toll on the industry. In FY 2008, U.S. commercial airlines reported an operating loss 

of $2.0 billion and a record net loss of $18.5 billion, primarily due to $10.0 billion in losses at Delta and 

Northwest stemming from a reduction in the value of the airlines due to high fuel prices. Excluding these 

losses, the industry posted a net loss of $8.5 billion.

Operating revenues (passenger and cargo) were up 8.8 percent in 2008, reflecting higher fares and 

increased demand for higher yield cargo. Operating expenses were up 16.9 percent in 2008, as jet fuel 

prices increased 52.1 percent from $1.97 to $3.00 per gallon. 

In 2008, passenger carriers reported operating losses of $4.4 billion and net losses of $19.8 billion, while 

air cargo carriers reported operating and net profits of $2.4 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. Passenger 

carriers generated an operating loss ($4.4 billion) in domestic markets for the first time in three years while 

international operations remained profitable ($20.8 million). Net losses were reported for passenger carriers 

in both the domestic ($15.5 billion) and international market ($4.3 billion). Cargo carriers had stronger 

financial results than the passenger carriers. Domestically, cargo carriers posted operating and net 

profits of $956.2 million and $503.3 million, respectively. In international markets, these carriers reported 

operating profits of $1.4 billion and net profits of $790.8 million. 

The industry’s financial deterioration is largely due to the financial performance of the network carriers. 

After earning $2.0 billion in FY 2007, the seven network carriers reported a $14.9 billion net loss in FY 2008, 

a swing of $16.9 billion. Most of the downturn occurred in domestic markets where the seven carriers 

accounted for 61.3 percent of capacity and 49.2 percent of passengers transported. Between 2000 and 

2007, the domestic operations of these carriers reported combined operating and net losses of $25.6 and 

$37.3 billion, respectively. These losses widened in 2008, with the network carriers reporting operating 

losses of $5.0 billion and net losses of $10.5 billion. The nine reporting low-cost carriers reported operating 

profits of $301.4 million and net losses of $83.3 million in 2008. Strong competition from the network 

carriers, high fuel prices, and falling demand hurt many low-cost carriers’ profits.

U.S. C OM MERC IAL AIR CAR RIER S

O PERATING AND NET PROFIT /LOSS

FISCAL YEARS 2002 - 2008

$5 .6

-$1 1.7

$ 5.8

-$ 2.0

$ 10.1

-$ 1.2

$ 0.7

-$4 .6

-$1 0.6

-$ 18 .5

-$ 0.2

-$ 5.7 -$ 4.6

-$10 .9

-20.0

-16.0

-12.0

-8.0

-4.0

0.0

4.0

8.0

12.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

O per a ting Pr ofit/Loss

Net P r ofit/Loss

Sou r ce: D O T F o rm 41 & F orm 298 C BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

20

Strategic capacity cutbacks by the air carriers throughout 2008 coupled with fuel surcharges paid off in 

strong growth for mainline carrier passenger yield. After a modest increase of 2.4 percent in 2007, mainline 

carrier passenger yield rose 5.9 percent in 2008.

In 2008, regional carriers reported operating profits of $494.5 million and net profits of $138.8 million. The 

future of regional carriers is closely tied to the fortunes of the larger network carriers for whom they provide 

feed at mainline air carrier hub airports. Similar to the strong growth in mainline carrier yield, regional carrier 

passenger yield increased 6.7 percent in 2008. However, reflecting the changing nature of the industry, 

regional yield is down 43.4 percent in real terms since 2000 (compared to a drop of 19.7 percent since 2000 

for mainline yield).

U.S. Commercial Air Carriers 2008 Aircraft Fleet

The commercial passenger carrier fleet is undergoing transformation. The mainline carriers are retiring 

older, less fuel efficient aircraft (e.g. 737-300/400/500 and MD-80) and replacing them with more 

technologically advanced 737-700/800/900 aircraft. The regional carriers are growing their fleet of 70 to 90 

seat regional jet aircraft and reducing their fleet of 50-seat jet aircraft.

The total number of aircraft in the U.S. commercial fleet (including regional carriers) is estimated at 7,274 

for 2008, a decrease of 470 aircraft from 2007. This includes 3,743 mainline air carrier passenger aircraft 

(over 90 seats), 949 mainline air carrier cargo aircraft, and 2,582 regional carrier aircraft (jets, turboprops, 

and pistons). 

U .S . C O M M E R C I A L A IR C ARRIE R S

D O M E S TIC P ASSE NG E R YIE L DS

F ISC AL Y E A R S 2002 – 2008

0

5

1 0

1 5

2 0

2 5

3 0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Mainline Regionals

REVENUE PER RPM (CENTS)
21

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

The mainline carriers’ passenger jet fleet decreased by 240 aircraft in 2008 as increases in low-cost carrier 

fleets were offset by large reductions in the network carrier fleet. With the cuts in the fleet in 2008, the 

mainline carrier fleet now stands at 16.6 percent below (745 aircraft) the level it was in 2000. 

The mainline carrier cargo fleet shrank by 25 aircraft to 949. The regional carrier fleet fell by 205 units with 

declines in both turboprop aircraft and regional jets, the first time since their introduction that the regional 

jet fleet has declined in size. Despite the reduction in the regional jet fleet in 2008, since 2000, a total of 

1,085 regional jets have been added to the regional carriers’ fleet while the number of turboprops and 

pistons has declined by 777 aircraft. 

General Aviation

According to numbers released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), U.S. 

manufacturers of general aviation aircraft delivered 3,079 aircraft in CY 2008, 6.1 percent lower than in CY 

2007, the first decrease since 2003. The turbine categories, turbojets and turboprops, were up 17.2 and 

14.8 percent, respectively. Overall piston deliveries declined 17.6 percent with single-engine down 18.9 

percent and the much smaller multi-engine category up 18.2 percent. Billings in CY 2008 totaled $13.4 

billion, up 11.8 percent compared with 2007.

U .S . C O M M E R C I A L A IR C ARRIE R S

A IRCR A F T F L E E T

C AL E NDAR YE AR S 2002 – 2008

4,022 4,024 3,906 3,898 3,983

1,056 993 993 1,001 1,012 974 949

2,549

4,118

3,743

2,499

2,784

2,787

2,582 2,747

2,830

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Mainline-AC Cargo Regionals
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

22

General aviation activity at FAA air traffic facilities fell sharply in 2008. Operations at combined FAA and 

contract towers declined 5.6 percent in 2008, the steepest decline in activity since 2003. General aviation 

activity at consolidated traffic facilities (FAA TRACONs) fell 6.3 percent, while the number of general 

aviation aircraft handled at FAA en route centers decreased by 7.6 percent. 

The FAA uses estimates of fleet size, hours flown and utilization from the General Aviation and Air Taxi 

Activity and Avionics Survey (GA Survey) as baseline figures upon which assumed growth rates can be 

applied. This survey has been conducted annually since 1977. Beginning with the CY 2004 Survey there 

were significant improvements to the survey methodology. These improvements included conducting 100 

percent samples for turboprops and turbojets, all rotorcraft, all aircraft in Alaska and all aircraft operating 

on-demand under Part 135. In addition, the sample design was revised to stratify by aircraft type (19 

categories), FAA region (9 categories), and whether the aircraft was owned by an entity certified to fly Part 

135 operations (2 categories). Furthermore, a large fleet reporting form was incorporated to allow owners/

operators of multiple aircraft to report aggregate data for their entire fleet on a single form. In 2005 an 

additional aircraft category (Light Sport Aircraft) was added. The result of these changes was the sample 

size nearly doubled. Between 2003 and 2005 large changes in both the number of aircraft (turbojets up by 

22.8 percent, total rotorcraft up by 33.7 percent) and hours (single-engine piston down by 17.6 percent) in 

many categories occurred. The results of the 2007 Survey are consistent with the results of the surveys 

since 2004. This reinforces our belief the methodological improvements have resulted in superior estimates 

relative to those in the past and they are used as the basis for our forecast. 

Based on the latest FAA assumptions about fleet attrition and aircraft utilization and GAMA aircraft 

shipment statistics, the active general aviation fleet is estimated to have increased 1.0 percent in 2008, 

to 234,015. Despite the increase in the active fleet, general aviation flight hours are estimated to have 

decreased 0.2 percent in 2008 to 27.8 million. 

Student pilots are important to general aviation and the aviation industry as a whole. In 2008, according 

to statistics compiled by the FAA’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, the number of student pilots 

decreased by 4.0 percent. This is the fourth consecutive year of decline in this important pilot category. 

The industry has, over the past several years, maintained several industry-wide programs designed to 

attract new pilots to general aviation. The industry is trying to stimulate interest in flying, but the data 

suggest that more needs to be done.

GENER AL AVIATION

U.S. M ANUFAC TURERS SH IPM ENTS AND BILLI NGS

C ALENDAR YE ARS 2002 - 2008

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

20 02 2003 2 004 2005 2006 2007 2008

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

SHI PM E NTS

BIL LING S

Sou rce : G A M A SHIPMENTS

$B
23

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

FAA Workload

The combination of the extreme rise in fuel prices followed by a deteriorating economic environment 

resulted in a fall in activity at FAA facilities in 2008. This continues a trend that began in 2001 with the last 

economic downturn and the events of 9/11. 

Total activity at combined FAA and contract tower airports totaled 58.5 million operations in 2008, down 4.3 

percent from 2007 and 14.8 percent below the peak activity level recorded in 2000. Commercial activity 

(the sum of air carrier and commuter/air taxi) at combined FAA and contract towers declined by 2.1 percent 

in 2008. Air carrier operations were up 1.1 percent, but were offset by a 5.9 percent decline in commuter/

air taxi operations. Commercial operations are 5.2 percent lower than their peak in 2005. 

Non-commercial activity (the sum of general aviation and military) at combined FAA and contract towers fell 

by 5.8 percent in 2008, with general aviation activity (31.3 million) down 5.6 percent and military activity (2.5 

million) down 8.4 percent. General aviation activity has declined eight of the past nine years since 1999. 

At the end of 2008, non-commercial aircraft activity was 21.0 percent below the activity in 2000, having 

declined each year since 2002.

The FAA pays close attention to the trends occurring at the 35 Operational Evolution Partnership (OEP) 

airports. These airports are the top 35 airports in the country in terms of passenger activity (except MEM 

and PIT) and account for about 75 percent of commercial passengers. Although commercial activity at the 

OEP airports exceeded pre-9/11 peak activity levels in 2005, subsequent industry restructuring has resulted 

in a drop in combined commercial activity at these airports since. In 2008, commercial activity at the OEP 

airports fell by 1.8 percent and is 4.6 percent below pre-9/11 activity levels. Increases were recorded at 

only 8 of the 35 airports with the highest rates of growth at San Francisco (up 7.1 percent) and St. Louis (up 

5.2 percent). The largest declines occurred at Pittsburgh (down 22.8 percent) and Chicago-Midway (down 

9.8 percent). As a result, only 17 airports exceeded 2000 peak activity levels during fiscal year 2008, down 

from 18 in the previous year.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY AT

COMBINED FAA AND CO NTRACT TOW ERS

FISCAL YEARS 2002 - 2008

40.7

38.5

33.8

37.9

37.0 35.9 35.9

24.7 25.2 25.3 26.1 25.2 24.2 24.2

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

NO N-C O M M E RCIAL CO M M E RCIAL

MILLIONS
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

24

Reflecting the shift in demand to low-cost and regional carriers, commercial operations at Las Vegas (up 

40.7 percent), Fort Lauderdale (up 29.0 percent), and New York Kennedy (up 28.9 percent), are up the 

greatest relative to their pre-September 11th activity levels. Commercial operations at Pittsburgh (down 

63.2 percent) and St. Louis (down 47.7 percent) show the largest declines from pre-9/11 levels. These 

activity level shifts reflect the impact of the restructuring of the airline industry. American’s acquisition 

of TWA resulted in a consolidation of operations away from TWA’s St. Louis hub, while the merger of US 

Airways and America West has led to a dramatic shrinking of US Airways’ operations in Pittsburgh.

During 2008, total activity at FAA en route centers (45.3 million) fell 3.1 percent from the previous year. 

Commercial activity declined 1.9 percent, with air carrier operations down 4.7 percent while commuter/air 

taxi operations increased 5.4 percent. Non-commercial activity was down 6.5 percent in 2008 as general 

aviation and military activity fell 7.6 and 4.1 percent, respectively. In 2008, air carrier operations fell back 

below their 2000 activity levels while operations for the general aviation and military user groups were 12.4 

and 13 percent below their 2000 activity levels, respectively.

17 O EP AIRPO RTS E XCEEDE D

PRE-SEPTEMBER 11 TH LEVELS DURING FY 2008

FY 2008 VS. FY 2000 COM MERCIAL ACTIVITY

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

PERCENT OF FY 2000 OPS

LAS

FLL

JFK

IAH

CLT

DEN

SLC

SAN

PHL

MSP

ATL

MEM

LGA

DCA

MCO

ORD

MDW

18 OEP AIR POR TS

ARE BELO W PRE-SEPT EMBER 11T H LEVELS

FY 2008 VS. FY 2000 COM MERCIAL AC TIVITY

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1 00

PERCENT OF FY 2000 OPS

EWR

PHX

HNL

BWI

DTW

TPA

SFO

PDX

LAX

MIA

IAD

DFW

SEA

CLE

BOS

CVG

STL

PIT
25

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

AIRCRAFT HANDL ED AT

FAA EN ROUTE CENTERS

FISC AL YEARS 2002 – 2008

33.8 35.1 33.8 34.7 34.0

31.6 31.9

11.3 12.1

12.4 12.4 12.3

12.1 11.9

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

COMMERCIAL NON-COMMERCIAL

MILLIONS
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

26

FAA AEROSPACE FORECAST FISCAL YEARS 

2009 – 2025

Developing forecasts of aviation demand and activity levels continues to be challenging as the aviation 

industry evolves and prior relationships change. In times of amplified volatility, the process is filled with 

uncertainty, particularly in the short-term. Even though the highly cyclical U.S. aviation industry moved 

strongly downward at the end of 2008, history has shown the demand for air travel is resilient and growth 

will return. With the start of 2009, the lingering questions are 1) how much economic recovery will be 

required to jumpstart the industry back to a period of growth, and 2) when will the recovery occur?

Carriers responded proactively to two major events in 2008. During the first part of the year, carrier costs 

rose as fuel prices reached record levels, peaking at $3.83 a gallon during the summer. To combat rising 

costs, carriers implemented schedule cutbacks, pared international growth plans, and raised fares. By 

the latter half of the year, the demand for air travel dropped as economic uncertainty accelerated. Carriers 

countered the drop in air travel demand with additional schedule cuts. By the start of 2009, carriers had 

executed the largest reductions in capacity during the period of post-deregulation (1978).

Given the current instability in the global economy, there is much uncertainty as to the timing and strength 

of a recovery in aviation demand. While there remains large uncertainty in the operating environment, the 

FAA has developed a set of assumptions and forecasts consistent with the emerging trends and structural 

changes currently taking place within the aviation industry. The FAA believes these forecasts accurately 

predict future aviation demand, however due to the large uncertainty of the operating environment the 

variance around the forecasts is wider than in prior years.

The commercial aviation forecasts and assumptions are developed from econometric models that explain 

and incorporate emerging trends for the different segments of the industry. In addition the commercial 

aviation forecasts are considered unconstrained in that they assume there will be sufficient infrastructure to 

handle the projected levels of activity. These forecasts do not assume further contractions of the industry 

through bankruptcy, consolidation, or liquidation.

The commercial aviation forecast methodology is a blended one. The starting point for developing the 

commercial aviation forecasts (air carriers and regionals) is the future schedules published in the Official 

Airline Guide (OAG). To generate the short-term forecast (one year out) current monthly trends are used in 

conjunction with published monthly schedules to allow FAA forecasters to develop monthly capacity and 

demand forecasts for both mainline and regional carriers for fiscal and calendar year 2009. The medium to 

long-term forecasts (2010-2025) are based on results of econometric models. 

The general aviation forecasts rely heavily on the results of the 2007 General Aviation and Part 135 Activity 

Survey and discussions with industry experts. The assumptions have been updated by FAA analysts to 

reflect more recent data and developing trends, as well as further information from industry experts. 

The FAA also presents the forecasts and assumptions to industry staff and aviation associations, who 

are asked to comment on the reasonableness of the assumptions and forecasts. Their comments and/or 

suggestions have been incorporated into the forecasts as appropriate.
27

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Economic Forecasts

The FAA uses the most recent Administration economic forecasts to project domestic aviation demand. 

The FAA uses the world and individual country economic projections provided by Global Insight, Inc. to 

forecast the demand for international aviation services. Annual historical data and economic forecasts are 

presented in tabular form in Tables 1 through 4. Projections for the U.S. economy are presented on a U.S. 

government fiscal year (October through September) basis. International forecasts are presented on a 

calendar year basis.

Recently, the National Bureau of Economic Research (www.nber.org), the official arbiter of business cycle 

dating, announced that the US economy entered into recession in December 2007. As the number of 

unemployed workers rose, there was little doubt that the US economy entered into recession together 

with partner economies from the other side of the Atlantic and around the world. Further confirmation was 

provided when the Bureau of Economic Analysis (www.bea.gov) reported that U.S. real gross domestic 

product (GDP) fell at an annual rate of 3.8% in the fourth quarter of CY 2008, the second consecutive 

quarterly decline in real GDP. 

The question now is how long the recession will continue. While history may be a guide, every recession 

has its own character. On average, the recessions since the end of World War II averaged 10 months in 

duration. Unlike the recession of 1981-82 the US economy is not facing an inflationary environment and 

high interest rates. In comparison to recession of 1973-74, today, the economy does not face a high 

energy cost environment either. The job losses from the beginning of the recession in December 2007 to 

January 2009 have totaled 3.8 million. Furthermore, job losses have accelerated in the last three months. 

With a further contraction of the economy projected this year, unemployment is expected to rise above 8 

percent, a 3 point increase over the long-term trend. As it stands now, this recession is one of the most 

severe downturns since the end of World War II.

Against this backdrop, there is great deal of uncertainty as to the future direction of the US and the global 

economy. Although, the US economy is undergoing significant structural changes, particularly in the 

housing and banking sectors as the true prices of assets are being revealed, the combination of the nearly 

$800 billion fiscal stimulus package and the aggressive monetary policies that have been undertaken, and 

are expected to continue, is projected to lead the economy out of the recession in the second half of 2009. 

The latest set of economic forecasts from the Administration calls for the U.S. recession to end by the 3Q in 

FY 2009 followed by a relatively modest recovery over the next six quarters. On a quarter-by-quarter basis 

U.S. economic growth is projected over the next two years to range from a low of -4.3 percent in 2Q FY 

2009 to a high of 3.8 percent in 3Q FY 2010.
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

28

Between 2010 and 2013, U.S. economic growth is projected to be above trend (3.8 percent) with rates 

ranging between 2.4 and 4.5 percent. Beyond 2013 through the balance of the forecast period, U.S. 

economic growth is projected to slow to around 2.6 percent per year. The major risk is that the financial 

crisis worsens resulting in further reductions in lending, leading to reduced consumer spending, weaker 

business investment, and slower worldwide economic growth.

Oil prices, as measured by Refiners’ Acquisition Cost, are projected by Global Insight (January 2009 US 

Economic Outlook) to fall almost 65 percent in 2009 after more than tripling since 2004. Oil prices are then 

projected to increase steadily to 2014 before falling gradually to 2018 as increased supplies come on line. 

After 2018 oil prices are assumed increase at the rate of inflation for the balance of the forecast period. 

U.S. G R O SS DO M E ST IC P R O DUC T

SE ASO NAL L Y ADJ UST E D ANNUAL G R O W T H

F Y 2009 AND 2010 BY Q UAR T E R

(0 .2)

3 .6 3 .8

3 .4

(3 .8 )

3 .6

2.3

(4 .3 )

-6 .0

-3 .0

0 .0

3 .0

6 .0

2 0 0 8 -0 4 2 0 0 9 -0 1 2 0 0 9-0 2 2 0 09 -0 3 2 0 0 9 -0 4 2 0 1 0 -0 1 2 0 1 0 -0 2 2 0 1 0 -0 3

F isca l Y e a r 2 0 0 9 F isc a l Y ea r 2 0 1 0

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH

U.S. G R O SS DO M E ST IC P R O DUC T

2008 - 2025

3.8

2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6

1.9

2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6

3.2

4.5 4.4

(1.4)

2.4

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025
29

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

The inflation rate (as measured by the CPI) is expected to fall 0.4 percent in 2009, after rising 4.4 percent 

in 2008. The fall in the CPI in 2009 is mostly attributed to the decline in energy prices. As the economy 

recovers and growth resumes, consumer price inflation is expected to rise slowly until 2012 and then level 

off at 2.1 percent a year for the balance of the forecast. 

World Economy

Worldwide economic activity is predicted by Global Insight to shrink by 0.7 percent in 2009, marking the 

first contraction in global GDP since the Great Depression. The advanced economies (U.S., Canada, 

Europe, and Japan) are all projected to post declines in output ranging from -1.5 percent to -2.9 percent. 

The emerging market economies are projected to grow 2.8 percent, 3.0 points below what they grew in 

2008. Many emerging market economies will post declines in real GDP including Mexico, Singapore, 

Taiwan, Hong Kong, Israel, Turkey, and Ukraine. In 2010, growth is projected to resume (2.4 percent) as 

stimulus plans in the U.S. and in China provide the basis for recovery. Recovery in Europe is projected to 

be more gradual than in the U.S. as the housing market corrections have come later and policy actions are 

more cautious. Beyond 2010 through the balance of the forecast period, world real GDP is projected to 

increase an average of 3.3 percent per year. 

R EFINERS’ AC QUISIT ION C OST

PER CENT C HANGE FISCAL YEARS 2008 - 2025

(64.5)

5.9

67.6

-80.0

-60.0

-40.0

-20.0

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

2008 2009 2009-25

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

30

The Asia/Pacific and Latin America regions will continue to have the world’s highest economic growth 

rates. These regions are expected to see their economic activity grow at annual rates of 4.4 and 3.7 percent 

a year, respectively, over the forecast period. In Asia, China, with a population of 1.3 billion, is forecast to 

grow 7.7 percent a year, becoming the world’s second largest economy. India, with a population of 1.2 

billion, is projected to see its GDP triple in size, growing at an average rate of 6.6 percent a year during the 

forecast period. Canadian and European GDP growth is anticipated to rise at more moderate rates of 2.4 

and 1.8 percent a year, respectively, over the forecast period.

Aviation Traffic and Activity Forecasts

Total traffic and activity forecasts for commercial air carriers (the sum of mainline and regional carriers) are 

contained in Tables 5 through 9. These tables contain year-to-year historical data and forecasts. 

Mainline air carrier traffic and activity forecasts and the forecast assumptions are contained in Tables 10 

through 18, 20, and 22. These tables contain year-to-year historical data and forecasts. 

Regional carrier forecasts and assumptions are found in Tables 23 through 26. These tables provide yearto-year historical and forecast data.

Table 19 provides year-to-year historical and forecast data for cargo activity. Table 21 provides year-toyear historical and forecast data for the cargo jet fleet.

General aviation forecasts are found in Tables 27 through 30. These tables provide year-to-year historical 

data and forecasts.

Tables 31 through 33 provide forecasts of aircraft activity at FAA and contract facilities.

G R O SS DO M E ST IC P R O DUC T

BY W O R L D R E G IO N

C AL E NDAR YE AR S 2008 - 2025

(1.3)

2.4

1.7

3.9 3.9

0.8

3.5

4.6

1.4

0.7

(1.5)

2.6 2.3

(0.7)

3.2

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

2008 2009 2009-25

Europe Latin America Pacific Canada World

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
31

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Commercial Aviation Forecasts

Mainline and regional carrier capacity and demand are forecast to fall sharply in 2009. System capacity 

is projected to shrink 6.7 percent in 2009, with mainline carrier domestic market capacity declining 9.5 

percent, signaling the largest reduction in domestic mainline capacity since deregulation of the industry 

in 1978. Also shrinking (after a decade of average annual capacity growth in the double digits, but only 

averaging 3.0 percent growth for the last three years), are the regional carriers. Capacity for this group 

of carriers falls considerably from 2008 levels, down 5.5 percent domestically. In the international sector, 

slow to moderate capacity growth is forecast in the Atlantic and Latin market, as growth in the Pacific 

market shrinks. Mainline carrier system capacity drops 1.0 percent, while regional carrier capacity falls 4.3 

percent. 

Passenger demand contracts in 2009 with system RPMs forecast to decline 7.1 percent (down 7.2 percent 

and 5.9 percent for mainline and regional carriers, respectively) as passenger enplanements drop 7.3 

percent (down 8.0 percent for mainline carriers and 4.5 percent for regional carriers). Growth is projected 

to return in 2010 with system RPMs and passengers increasing 2.8 and 2.0 percent, respectively, on a 

capacity increase of 2.6 percent. For the overall forecast period, system capacity is projected to increase 

an average of 3.1 percent a year. Supported by a growing U.S. economy and falling real yields, system 

RPMs are projected to increase 3.1 percent a year, with regional carriers (4.8 percent a year) growing faster 

than mainline carriers (3.0 percent a year). System passengers are projected to increase an average of 

2.2 percent a year, with regional carriers growing faster than mainline carriers (3.2 versus 2.0 percent a 

year). By 2025, U.S. commercial air carriers are projected to fly 1.7 trillion ASMs and transport 1.1 billion 

enplaned passengers a total of 1.4 trillion passenger miles. Planes will remain crowded, with load factor 

projected to peak at 81.1 by 2016, and slowly fall thereafter to land at 79.9 percent in 2025. Passenger trip 

length is also forecast to increase by more than 180 miles over the forecast to 1,272.7 miles (up 10.6 miles 

annually). The growth in passenger trip length reflects the faster growth in the relatively longer international 

and domestic trips as compared to shorter-haul flights.

U.S. CO M M ERC IAL AIR C AR RIER S

SYSTEM ENPLANEM ENTS

FISCAL YEARS 2008 - 2025

0

250

500

750

1,000

1,250

2008 2 01 0 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2 024

MAINLINE REGIONALS

MILLIONS of PASSENGERS
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

32

Domestic Markets

After a minimal decline in domestic capacity during FY 2008, capacity in FY 2009 is projected to fall 

dramatically, down 9.0 percent. Mainline carrier capacity drops 9.5 percent following a decline of 1.2 

percent in 2008, as these carriers continue to optimize operations in an environment of uncertainty. An 

indicator of the harshness of the operating environment for FY 2009 is the 5.5 percent drop in capacity 

forecast for the regional carriers. FY 2009 marks the first year in the post-9/11 era that regional carriers 

have cut capacity (in comparison, the mainline carriers have cut capacity four years between 2001 and 

2008). Domestic commercial carrier capacity recovers modestly in 2010 (up 2.5 percent) with mainline 

carriers growing slower than regional carriers, 2.2 percent versus 4.2 percent, respectively, and then 

increases at an average annual rate of 3.4 percent for the balance of the forecast (2010-2025). For the 

entire forecast period (2008–2025), domestic capacity is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 

2.6 percent, just slightly slower than economic growth, with mainline carriers growing slower (2.2 percent 

per year) than the regional carriers (4.6 percent per year).

The recession in the U.S. inhibits RPM growth during the first year of the forecast (down 8.9 percent), 

with the deepest declines in traffic projected to occur in the first half of the year. Mainline carrier RPMs 

are projected to contract 9.3 percent during 2009, while regional carrier RPMs fall 5.9 percent. By 2010, 

as the U.S. economy begins to recover, traffic growth returns with RPMs growing 2.7 percent. Driven by 

continued economic growth and falling real yields, domestic RPM growth for the remainder of the forecast 

(2010-2025), averages 3.4 percent per year. For the overall forecast period (2008-2025) domestic RPMs 

are projected to grow an average of 2.6 percent a year, Mainline carriers throughout the forecast period are 

projected to grow slower than the regional carriers (averaging 2.3 versus 4.6 percent a year, respectively). 

Enplanements are forecast to drop 7.8 percent in 2009, following a 1.5 percent decline in 2008. Similar to 

RPMs, passenger volume is expected to grow in 2010 (up 2.0 percent) with the rebounding economy, and 

then grow at an average rate of 2.7 percent per year for the period 2010-2025. Over the entire forecast 

period, domestic enplanements are projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.0 percent with 

mainline carriers growing slower than regional carriers (1.7 versus 3.0 percent a year, respectively). 

U.S. C O MMERCI A L A IR C AR R IE R S

D O M E S T IC A SM S

2008 - 2025

(1.2)

3.0

(9.5)

(5.5)

5.3 5.2

-12.0

-8.0

-4.0

0.0

4.0

8.0

2008 2009 2009-25

Mainline Regionals

Annual Percent Growth
33

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

On the heels of a 0.7 percent increase (down 1.6 percent in real terms) in 2007, nominal mainline carrier 

domestic passenger yield rose 5.2 percent (0.7 percent increase in real terms) in 2008. Decisive capacity 

cutbacks in the face of rising fuel prices coupled with rapid and widespread incorporation of fuel 

surcharges helped carriers maintain pricing power during 2008 despite weakening demand. Despite the 

significant capacity reductions, the decline in demand will spur carriers to lower prices in 2009, resulting in 

a nominal yield decrease of 1.6 percent (1.4 percent in real terms). For the entire forecast period, increases 

in nominal yields are projected to grow at a rate of 0.6 percent a year, while in real terms they are projected 

to decline an average of 1.2 percent a year. The decline in real yields over the forecast period assumes 

competition between carriers and convergence of cost structures between network carriers and their 

low-cost counterparts. The convergence arises from gains in productivity as network carriers retire fuel 

inefficient aircraft and reduce labor costs while low-cost carriers contend with aging fleets, maturing work 

forces, and unionization. 

Domestic commercial carrier activity (departures) at FAA air traffic facilities is projected to grow slower 

than passenger traffic over the forecast period (1.4 percent per year for departures versus 2.6 percent for 

RPMs). This reflects increased carrier efficiencies in three operational measures—aircraft size, load factor, 

and trip length.

Domestic aircraft size12 increased in 2008 by 0.4 seats to 120.8 seats. The increase was partly driven by 

an unprecedented jump in aircraft size by the regional carriers (up 2.9 seats) and the grounding of older, 

fuel inefficient aircraft (i.e. MD-80’s and 737-300/400/500) by the mainline carriers. The increase in regional 

aircraft size was caused by the retirement of 50-seat jet aircraft as larger 70-90 seat jet aircraft entered the 

fleet. Domestic seats per aircraft falls in 2009 (down 0.7 seats) as mainline carriers shrink capacity faster 

than their regional counterparts and then gradually increases over the balance of the forecast to 122.1 

seats by 2025. For the entire forecast period, domestic seats increase an average 0.1 seats per year.

The FAA’s projection of domestic carrier average aircraft size is greatly influenced by carrier fleet plans, 

publicly known aircraft order books and FAA’s expectations of the changing domestic competitive 

landscape. In the near-term (through 2012), the forecast incorporates several carrier assumptions: 

U.S. C O MMERCI A L A IR C AR R IE R S

D O M E S T IC R P M S

2008 - 2025

(1.5)

3.1

(9.3)

(5.9)

5.2

2.7

-12.0

-8.0

-4.0

0.0

4.0

8.0

2008 2009 2009-25

Ma inline R egionals

Annual Percent Growth

12 Defined as seats per mile flown and computed by dividing ASMs by miles flown.
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

34

1) mainline carriers desire to constrain ASM capacity growth; 2) network carrier “own metal” service on 

longer-haul routes; 3) the retirement of older inefficient aircraft (many of which are narrow-body); 4) the 

shifting of wide-body and larger narrow-body aircraft to international services, and 5) growing use of 70-90 

seat regional jet aircraft.

In the longer-term, network carriers will replace their wide-body and larger narrow-body aircraft in their 

domestic route networks with smaller, next generation, narrow-body aircraft. In addition, some carriers, 

such as JetBlue and US Airways, are turning to smaller aircraft, like the 100-seat Embraer 190, to 

supplement their route structure. The use of smaller narrow-body aircraft allows mainline carriers to better 

serve their customers by boosting frequency, as well as improve profitability by more closely matching 

supply (the number of seats) with demand (the number of passengers).

Mainline carrier domestic aircraft size decreased in 2008 by 0.6 seats to 150.0 seats, and is projected to 

fall an additional 0.8 seats in 2009. Domestic aircraft size for mainline carriers is projected to fall to 148.4 

seats by 2014 and then gradually increase thereafter for the balance of the forecast. Overall, average 

aircraft size for the mainline group will increase by only one seat between 2008 and 2025, going from 150.0 

to 151.0 seats.

While mainline carriers have been reducing the size of aircraft flown domestically, regional carriers have 

been increasing their aircraft size. The most visible example of this trend is the wave of 70-90 seat regional 

jet aircraft that are entering the fleet. Regional carriers are better equipped to support operations of their 

mainline partners by providing capacity that complements market demand. The greater number of the 

larger 70- and 90-seat regional jets in the fleet coupled with significant 50-seat jet retirements over the next 

few years increases the average seating capacity of the regional fleet from 52.8 seats in 2008 to 54.6 seats 

by 2010. Over the course of the forecast, average seats per aircraft for the regional carriers increases by 

0.8 seats per year to 65.6 seats in 2025. The changing aircraft fleet mix is narrowing the gap between the 

size and aircraft types operated by the mainline and regional carriers.

Commercial carrier domestic load factor fell 0.5 points from the all-time high posted in 2007 to 79.3 percent 

in 2008. The load factor for mainline and regional carriers fell 0.2 and 1.8 points, respectively. In 2009, 

domestic load factor is forecast to increase 0.1 points to 79.4 percent as mainline load factor rises 0.1 

points and regional load factor falls 0.3 points. Thereafter, domestic load factor rises, peaking in 2017 at 

81.7 percent, and then declines gradually for the remainder of the forecast to 80.1 percent in 2025.

In 2008 domestic passenger trip length increased 4.4 miles to 874.6 miles, after falling 1.2 miles in 2007. 

Domestic passenger trip length is forecast to decline in 2009 by 10.5 miles as carriers continue to restructure 

their networks and realign capacity. After 2009, trip length is projected to steadily increase for the balance of 

the forecast, reaching 970.2 miles by 2025. The increase in trip length reflects increases in both mainline and 

regional carrier trip length. Mainline carrier trip length increases due to the transfer of shorter haul routes to 

regional partners and increased flying of longer domestic trips. Regional carrier trip length increases with the 

larger 70 and 90-seat regional jets allowing these carriers to service longer haul markets. 

Another key factor in predicting aviation activity relative to passenger demand is the level of connecting 

versus non-stop (origin-destination) traffic. However, as the current cycle of U.S. airline industry 

restructuring unfolds and hub structures change, the impact on local communities and airport activity levels 

can vary significantly.
35

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

The FAA analyzes the ratio of passenger enplanements to origin-destination (O&D) passengers over time 

to identify changes in connecting versus non-stop traffic. This ratio is an indicator of the tendency of the 

average passenger to connect during a typical journey. The closer the ratio is to 1.0, the more passengers 

fly on a point-to-point routing. As the chart below shows, the overall ratio for the U.S. domestic industry 

varied within a narrow band between 1995 and 2002, but has been decreasing since then. The decline 

in the ratio since 2002 has been due to a decline in the network carrier connectivity coupled with the 

increasing passenger share of the low-cost carriers during this time. In general, the low cost carriers have 

lower connectivity ratios than do the network carriers, however since 2004 the low-cost carrier connectivity 

ratio has been increasing. In FY 2008, the respective connectivity ratios of the network and low-cost 

carriers were the closest to each other since FY 1999. The FAA’s forecast recognizes the changing pattern 

of domestic traffic connectivity and the relative mix of network versus low-cost carrier traffic volumes. 

These trends are captured in the forecast’s passenger enplanement totals.

International Markets

U.S. and Foreign Flag Carriers

FAA provides forecasts of total international passenger demand (the sum of U.S. and foreign flag carriers) 

for travel between the United States and three world travel areas--Atlantic, Latin America (including Mexico 

and the Caribbean), and Asia/Pacific--as well as for U.S./Canadian transborder traffic. These forecasts are 

based on historical passenger statistics from the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services 

(INS) and Transport Canada, and on regional world historical data and economic projections from Global 

Insight, Inc.

Total passenger traffic between the United States and the rest of the world is estimated to total 153.9 

million in CY 2008, 2.8 percent higher than in 2007. The worldwide recession drives international 

passengers down 0.9 percent in 2009 but a rebound in economic growth leads to a 4.2 percent growth in 

passengers in 2010. For the balance of the forecast period, stable worldwide economic growth leads to 

international passenger growth averaging 4.6 percent a year, and totaling 310.0 million in 2025. 

U.S. COM MERC IAL C ARRIERS

DOM ESTIC ENPLANEMENT S PER OD PAX

1995-2008

1.37 1 .3 7 1.38 1 .3 7 1.36 1 .3 6

1 .38

1.35

1 .34

1.3 2 1 .32

1.3 0

1 .3 8 1.38

1.20

1.25

1.30

1.35

1.40

1.45

So u r ces: D O T T 100 and O & D Su r vey

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008E
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

36

Over the entire forecast period (2008-2025), high economic growth in the Asia-Pacific market drives 

passenger growth averaging 5.2 percent a year for this region. China, India, and Taiwan (passenger growth 

of 11.8, 7.9, and 7.6 percent a year, respectively) are forecast to be the fastest growing markets in the 

region. Growth in the Japan market (the largest and most mature in the region) is projected to be well 

below the regional average at 2.0 percent a year.

In the Atlantic region, open skies between the European Union and the United States and increasing nonstop service to Africa and the Middle East helps to fuel passenger growth of 4.0 percent a year over the 

forecast period, however the global recession tempers growth during the early years of the forecast period. 

Over the 17-year forecast horizon, average annual passenger growth in the top three Atlantic markets, the 

United Kingdom, Germany, and France, is 3.7, 3.1, and 3.7 percent, respectively. 

In the Latin America region, passenger growth between 2008 and 2025 is forecast to average 4.3 percent 

a year. The highest growth is projected for Brazil (average annual growth of 5.5 percent) while the largest 

market in the region, Mexico, grows at an average of 4.3 percent a year. The slowest rates of growth are 

projected to occur in the Bahamian and Jamaica markets (averaging growth of 0.1 and 2.3 percent a year, 

respectively). 

Growth in the Canadian transborder market is forecast to be higher than that of the domestic U.S. market 

(2.0 percent), averaging 3.2 percent a year over the forecast period.

U.S. Flag Air Carriers

In 2008, international U.S. commercial air carrier capacity grew 5.8 percent. In 2009, capacity contracts 

(down 1.0 percent) as the global economic slowdown enters its second year. Despite the first full year of 

“open skies” between the United States and the European Union, capacity in the Atlantic market increases 

only 1.0 percent, due to the recessions in the U.S. and Europe. During the same period, capacity in the 

Latin region grows 2.4 percent, while declining 8.1 percent in the Pacific region. With a slow recovery in 

the global economies expected during 2010, international capacity grows modestly at 2.9 percent, and 

averages 4.8 percent a year for the remainder of the forecast period. Strong growth in the medium to longterm portion of the forecast reflects favorable U.S. and world economic activity.

U .S. & F O R E I G N F L A G C ARRIE R S

P ASSE NG E RS T O /F R O M T H E U .S.

2008 - 2025

4.0 4.3

5.2

3.2

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

Atlan tic L a tin A m erica Asia /P a cific Ca n a d a

T r a n sb or d er

AVERAGE ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
37

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

U.S. commercial air carrier international RPMs increased 5.3 percent in 2008 and enplanements increased 

3.3 percent. RPMs are projected to shrink in 2009 (down 2.5 percent), reflecting the slow down in the 

global economy. In 2010, U.S. carrier international RPMs increase 3.0 percent led by growth in the Atlantic 

(up 5.0 percent) and Latin markets (up 1.9 percent). For the balance of the forecast, RPMs increase an 

average 4.9 percent a year with the fastest growth in the Latin region. A similar pattern is forecast for 

enplanement growth. International enplanements are projected to drop 2.5 percent in 2009, and then grow 

2.4 percent in 2010. Over the balance of the forecast period, enplanements are forecast to increase an 

average of 4.4 percent a year with the fastest growth in Pacific and Latin markets (up 4.9 and 4.6 percent a 

year, respectively).

The slower growth in U.S. carrier international passengers over the period 2008-2025 (3.9 percent a year) 

compared to total international passengers (4.2 percent a year) reflects a small decline in market share 

for U.S. airlines over the forecast period. Forecasts of international demand assume U.S. and foreign flag 

carriers will benefit from the favorable economic activity in both the United States and world markets. 

U.S. C OM MERC IAL AIR CAR RIER S

INT ERNATI ONAL ASM S

2008 - 2025

5.8

1.0

11.4

4.2

0.9

2 .2

5.4 4.7

1.1

(8.1)

(1.0)

4.7

-10.0

-5.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

2 00 8 20 09 20 09 -2 5

Atla ntic L a tin P a cific Tota l

Annual Percent Growth

U.S. C OM MERC IAL AIR CAR RIER S

INTERNATIO NAL R PM S

2008 - 2025

4.3

(1.5)

10.4

5.4

0.3

4.0

(7.2)

4.8

(1.7)

5.3

(2.5)

4 .7

-9 .0

-6 .0

-3 .0

0 .0

3 .0

6 .0

9 .0

12 .0

2 008 200 9 20 09 -25

Atlantic L a tin Pa cific Total

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

38

International load factor for U.S. commercial carriers was 79.9 percent in 2008. Load factor is expected to 

fall to 78.7 percent in 2009 as capcity growth exceeds growth of traffic in the Atlantic and Latin markets. 

International load factor is projected to be flat in 2010, and then slowly rise for the remainder of the 

forecast to be 79.7 percent in 2025.

International passenger real yields for mainline carriers were up 2.8 percent in 2008. The largest increase 

was in the Pacific market (up 5.0 percent), and followed by the Atlantic (up 2.1 percent) and Latin market 

(up 1.6 percent), reflecting pricing power U.S. carriers command for travel in the international region. 

International real yields are projected to decline by 0.9 percent in 2009 and decrease an average 1.0 

percent a year over the balance of the forecast. In nominal terms, international yields are forecast to 

decrease 1.1 percent in 2009, and then increase at an annual rate of 1.1 percent over the forecast. The 

decline in real yields assumes competitive pressures will continue to exert pressure on carriers to hold the 

line on fare increases. In international markets, this takes the form of expanded open sky agreements and 

new and existing global alliances.

Commercial Air Carriers — Air Cargo

Historically, air cargo activity tracks with GDP. Additional factors that have affected the growth in air 

cargo traffic include declining real yields, improved productivity, and globalization. Significant structural 

changes have occurred in the air cargo industry. Among these changes are the following: air cargo security 

regulations by the FAA and TSA; market maturation of the domestic express market; modal shift from air 

to other modes (especially truck); increases in air fuel surcharges; growth in international trade from open 

skies agreements; use of all-cargo carriers (e.g., FedEx) by the U.S. Postal Service to transport mail; and 

increased use of mail substitutes (e.g., e-mail). 

The forecasts of Revenue Ton Miles (RTMs) are based on several assumptions specific to the cargo 

industry. First, security restrictions on air cargo transportation will remain in place. Second, most of 

the shift from air to ground transportation has occurred. Finally, long-term cargo activity will be tied to 

economic growth. 

The forecasts of RTMs were based mainly on models that link cargo activity to GDP. Forecasts of domestic 

cargo RTMs were developed with real U.S. GDP as the primary driver. Projections of international cargo 

RTMs were based on growth in world GDP, adjusted for inflation. The distribution of RTMs between 

passenger carriers and all-cargo carriers was forecast based on an analysis of historic trends in shares, 

changes in industry structure and market assumptions. 

Total RTMs are forecast to go down 7.6 percent in 2009 and grow 4.1 percent in 2010. For the balance of 

the forecast period, driven by steady economic growth, total RTMs are forecast to increase at an average 

annual rate of 5.1 percent. The forecast of 78.6 billion RTMs in 2025 represents an average annual increase 

of 4.2 percent over the entire forecast period. 

Domestic cargo RTMs are forecast to drop 8.3 percent in 2009 and then grow slowly in 2010, 2.5 percent, 

driven by growth in the U.S. economy. Between 2010 and 2025, domestic cargo RTMs are forecast to 

increase at an average annual rate of 2.4 percent. The forecast of 19.3 billion RTMs in 2025 represents an 

average annual increase of 1.8 percent over the entire forecast period.
39

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

The freight/express segment of domestic air cargo is highly correlated with capital spending. Thus, the 

growth of this segment in the future will be tied to growth in the economy. The mail segment of domestic 

air cargo will be affected by price and substitution (electronic mail). 

The all-cargo carriers have increased their share of domestic cargo RTMs flown from 65.4 percent in 1997 

to 85.0 percent in 2008. This is because of significant growth in express service by FedEx and United 

Parcel Service coupled with a lack of growth of domestic freight/express business for passenger carriers. 

The all-cargo share is forecast to increase to 88.4 percent by 2025 based on increases in wide-body 

capacity for all-cargo carriers and security considerations.

International cargo RTMs are forecast to fall 7.2 percent in 2009 reflecting the impact of the global 

economic downturn and grow 5.0 percent in 2010 as world economic growth rebounds and trade expands. 

For the balance of the forecast period, international cargo RTMs are forecast to increase an average of 6.2 

percent a year based on projected growth in world GDP. The forecast 59.3 billion RTMs in 2025 represents 

an average annual increase of 5.3 percent over the entire forecast period. 

All-cargo carriers share of international cargo RTMs flown decreased from 66.8 percent in 2007 to 63.3 

percent in 2008. The decrease is due to the reduction in capacity resulting from the bankruptcy of three 

all-cargo carriers. Beyond 2009, the all-cargo share of RTMs flown is forecast to increase to 68.4 percent 

by 2025.

Commercial Aircraft Fleet

The number of commercial aircraft is forecast to grow from 7,274 in 2008 to 9,840 in 2025, an average 

annual growth rate of 1.8 percent or 151 aircraft annually. The commercial fleet is projected to shrink by a 

net 637 aircraft in 2009 after shrinking by 470 aircraft in 2008 as record high fuel prices compelled carriers 

to prune their fleets. In comparison, the US commercial fleet shrank by 262 aircraft between 2000 and 

2003 during the last downturn in aviation.

U .S . C O M M E R C I A L A IR C ARRIE R S

R T M S 2008 - 2025

2.4

(9.5)

(8.3) (7.2)

1.7

6.1

-12.0

-8.0

-4.0

0.0

4.0

8.0

2008 2009 2009-25

D om e stic I n t er n a tio n a l

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

40

The number of passenger jets in the mainline carrier fleet decreased by 240 aircraft in 2008 and is expected 

to fall another 378 aircraft in 2009 before increasing in 2010 by 222 aircraft. For the period 2009-2025, 

the mainline air carrier passenger fleet increases an average of 116 aircraft a year, totaling 5,223 aircraft 

in 2025. The narrow-body fleet (including E-190’s at JetBlue and US Airways) is projected to grow by 86 

aircraft annually over the period 2009-2025; the wide-body fleet grows by 30 aircraft a year as the Boeing 

787 and Airbus A350’s enter the fleet. 

The regional carrier passenger fleet is forecast to decrease by 253 aircraft in 2009. After 2009, the regional 

carrier fleet is expected to increase by an average of 44 aircraft (1.7 percent) over the remaining years 

of the forecast period, totaling 3,033 aircraft in 2025. The number of regional jets (90 seats or fewer) at 

regional carriers is projected to grow from 1,655 in 2008 to 2,249 in 2025, an average annual increase of 1.8 

percent. All the growth in regional jets over the forecast period occurs in the larger 70 and 90-seat aircraft. 

During the forecast period, 1,160 regional jets of 50 or less seats are removed from the fleet, reflecting the 

relaxation of scope clauses. The turboprop/piston fleet is expected to decline from 927 in 2008 to 784 in 

2025. Turboprop/piston aircraft are expected to account for just 25.8 percent of the regional fleet in 2025, 

down from a 35.9 percent share in 2008. 

Cargo large jet aircraft are forecast to increase by just 6 aircraft over the next 2 years (from 949 to 955 

aircraft in 2010), and total 1,584 aircraft in 2025. The narrow-body jet fleet is projected to increase by 11 

aircraft a year over the 16-year forecast period as older 757’s and 737’s are converted to cargo service. 

The wide-body jet fleet is projected to increase by 29 aircraft yearly.

General Aviation

The FAA forecasts the fleet and hours flown for single-engine piston aircraft, multi-engine piston, 

turboprops, turbojets, rotorcraft (piston, turbine), sport, experiment and other (glider, balloon). The FAA 

forecasts “active aircraft,”13 not total aircraft. The FAA uses estimates of fleet size, hours flown, and 

utilization from the General Aviation and Air Taxi Activity and Avionics Survey (GA Survey) as baseline 

13 An active aircraft is one that flies at least one hour during the year.

U.S. C O MMERCI A L A IR C R AF T F L E ET

C ALENDAR Y E AR S 2008 – 2025

(6.0)

(10.1) (9.8)

2.8

(0.6)

3.3

(2.6)

(7.4)

1.7

-12.0

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

2008 2009 2009-2025

MAINLINE-AC CARGO REGIONAL

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
41

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

figures upon which assumed growth rates can be applied. Beginning with the 2004 GA Survey there 

were significant improvements to the survey methodology. At the same time the survey methodology 

changed, large changes in both the number of aircraft and hours in many categories occurred. The results 

of the 2007 Survey are consistent with the results of the surveys since 2004 reinforcing our belief that the 

methodological improvements have resulted in superior estimates relative to those in the past. Thus, they 

are used as the basis for our forecast. Because the Survey is on a calendar year basis, the 2007 statistics 

are the latest available. Figures for 2008 are estimated based on other activity indicators and the forecasts 

of activity begin in 2009 and continue through 2025.

As the demand for business jets has grown over the past several years, the current forecast assumes that 

business use of general aviation aircraft will expand at a more rapid pace than that for personal/sport use. 

In addition, corporate safety/security concerns for corporate staff, combined with increasing flight delays at 

some U.S. airports have made fractional, corporate, and on-demand charter flights practical alternatives to 

travel on commercial flights.

The active general aviation fleet is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 1.0 percent over the 

17-year forecast period, growing from an estimated 234,015 in 2008 to 275,230 aircraft by 2025. The more 

expensive and sophisticated turbine-powered fleet (including rotorcraft) is projected to grow at an average 

of 3.2 percent a year over the forecast period with the turbine jet fleet increasing at 4.8 percent a year.

As recently as 2007, industry experts suggested the market for new Very Light Jets (VLJs) could add 500 

aircraft a year to the active fleet by 2010. The relatively inexpensive twin-engine VLJs (priced between 

$1 and $2 million) were believed by many to have the potential to redefine the business jet segment by 

expanding business jet flying and offering performance that could support a true on-demand air-taxi 

business service. However events since that time have dampened expectations for a rapid penetration 

of VLJs into the market, most notably the bankruptcy of Eclipse and the demise of DayJet. In 2008, VLJ 

deliveries fell short of our assumption (262 vs. 400). Despite the challenging economy and the uncertainty 

surrounding the future of Eclipse, the forecast assumes that about 200 VLJs will enter the active fleet in 

U.S. over the next 2 years and then increase to a rate of 270 to 300 aircraft a year for the balance of the 

forecast, totaling 4,875 aircraft by 2025.

ACTIVE G ENER AL AVIATIO N AIRCRAF T

C ALE NDAR YEARS 2008 – 2025

0.9

5.4

1.0 1.0

3.1

4.6

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

2008 2009 2009-2025

TO T AL T UR BI NE S

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

42

The number of active piston-powered aircraft (including rotorcraft) is projected to decrease from the 

2007 total of 169,675 through 2013 as declines in both single and multi-engine aircraft are forecast. 

Beyond 2013 active piston-powered aircraft are forecast to increase gradually to 170,475 by 2025. Over 

the forecast period, the average annual increase in piston-powered aircraft is 0.1 percent. Although 

piston rotorcraft are projected to increase rapidly (3.9 percent a year) they are a relatively small part of 

this segment of general aviation aircraft. Single-engine fixed-wing piston aircraft, which are much more 

numerous, are projected to grow at much slower rates (0.1 percent respectively) while multi-engine fixed 

wing piston aircraft are projected to decline 1.0 percent a year. In addition, it is assumed that VLJs and 

new light sport aircraft could erode the replacement market for traditional piston aircraft at the high and low 

ends of the market respectively. 

Starting in 2005, a new category of aircraft (previously not included in the FAA’s aircraft registry counts) 

was created: “light sport” aircraft. At the end of 2007 a total of 6,066 aircraft were estimated to be in 

this category. The forecast assumes the fleet will increase approximately 930 aircraft per year until 2013 

including both newly built aircraft and conversions from ultralight trainers. Thereafter the rate of increase 

in the fleet tapers considerably to about 300 per year. By 2025 a total of 15,865 light sport aircraft are 

projected to be in the fleet. 

The number of general aviation hours flown is projected to increase by 1.8 percent yearly over the forecast 

period. Much of the increase reflects increased flying by business and corporate aircraft as well as steady 

if relatively small annual percentage increases in utilization rates for piston aircraft. Hours flown by turbine 

aircraft (including rotorcraft) are forecast to increase 3.6 percent yearly over the forecast period, compared 

with 0.4 percent for piston-powered aircraft. Jet aircraft are forecast to account for most of the increase, 

with hours flown expanding at an average annual rate of 5.2 percent over the forecast period. The large 

increases in jet hours result mainly from the increasing size of the business jet fleet, including increases 

in the fractional ownership fleet and its activity levels. Fractional ownership aircraft fly about 800 hours 

annually compared to approximately 380 hours for all business jets in all applications. 

Previous forecasts of very light jets (VLJs) activity had assumed that a thriving on demand air taxi industry 

would occur over the course of the forecast. Because it was expected that VLJs would be used much 

differently than traditional turbojets, the FAA made separate assumptions for traditional turbojets and VLJs. 

In light of the events of the past year for VLJs and the on-demand air taxi market (bankruptcy of Eclipse 

and DayJet), FAA has revised its expectations downward about the size and scope of an on-demand air 

taxi industry using VLJs. VLJ aircraft that are used in an air taxi or shared ownership are expected to 

average approximately 470 hours per year while private use operators will average approximately 385. By 

2025 the annual utilization rate for all VLJs is forecast to be 432 hours. Traditional (non-VLJ) turbojets are 

expected to average approximately 368 hours per year by 2025, as VLJs are expected to have a greater 

share of their use in on-demand air taxi and shared ownership than the traditional turbojets.
43

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

The number of active general aviation pilots (excluding air transport pilots) is projected to be 509,900 in 

2025, an increase of almost 42,000 (up 0.5 percent yearly) over the forecast period. Commercial pilots 

are projected to increase from 124,746 in 2008 to 138,700 in 2025, an average annual increase of 0.6 

percent. The number of student pilots is forecast to increase at an average annual rate of 0.4 percent over 

the forecast period, growing from 80,989 in 2008 to 86,600 in 2025. In addition, FAA is projecting that by 

the end of the forecast period a total of 20,600 sport pilots will be certified. As of December 31, 2008, the 

number of sport pilot certificates issued was 2,623 reflecting a growing interest in this new “entry level” 

pilot certificate that was only created in 2005. The number of private pilots is projected to remain steady 

over the forecast period to total 223,400 in 2025.

FAA Workload Forecasts

FAA and Contract Towers

Activity at the 264 FAA and 239 contract tower airports (a total of 503) totaled 58.5 million operations in 

2008, down 4.3 percent from 2007. Activity is projected to decrease 5.7 percent in 2009, with declines 

in both commercial and non-commercial operations. Growth in activity returns in 2010 (0.9 percent) as 

commercial activity rises 2.2 percent. For the balance of the forecast activity growth varies between 1.3 

and 1.9 percent per year, reaching 69.6 million operations in 2025.

Most of the growth over the forecast period results from increased commercial aircraft activity (up 1.6 

percent annually). Air carrier activity is projected to shrink 5.0 percent in 2009 as carriers cut capacity 

in a recessionary environment. In 2010, air carrier activity is projected to increase 3.3 percent as airline 

capacity increases, and grows an average of 2.1 percent a year over the forecast period. Commuter/air 

taxi operations are forecast to fall 6.4 percent in 2009 then grow slowly in 2010 (up 0.7 percent). For the 

balance of the forecast period, commuter/air taxi operations are projected increase 1.4 percent a year. 

General aviation activity fell 5.6 percent in 2008 with steep declines in both itinerant (down 6.5 percent) and 

local (down 4.4 percent) activity. Activity is projected to fall again in 2009 (down 6.2 percent) reflecting the 

impact of the poor economy and then rise slightly in 2010 (up 0.1 percent) and 2011 (up 0.6 percent) as 

rising oil prices cut into the growth of flight hours and operations. For the entire forecast period, general 

HO URS FL OWN

IN GENER AL AVIATION AIRCRAFT

C ALENDAR YEARS 2008 - 2025

0.8

-0.2 -0.2

1.9

4.7

3.5

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

2008 2009 2009-2025

T O TAL T URBINE S

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

44

aviation activity at towered airports is projected to increase an average of 0.6 percent a year, to 34.6 million 

operations in 2025. General aviation activity at combined FAA/contract towers grows in line with the 

modest increase forecast for general aviation piston hours already cited. Most operations at the smaller 

towers are piston in nature, while those at the largest airports tend to be turbine operations. 

Military activity, which fell 8.4 percent in 2008, is forecast to fall 0.8 percent in 2009. We do not forecast 

military operations but instead assume a constant level of activity over the forecast period. 

Operations14 at FAA TRACONs (Terminal Radar Approach Control) fell 4.0 percent in 2008, the fourth year in 

a row. They are projected to decline again in 2009 (down 4.3 percent) as the recession leads to decreases 

in both commercial and non-commercial activity. TRACON operations are forecast to rise slightly (up 0.1 

percent) in 2010 before increasing at an average annual rate of 1.7 percent for the balance of the forecast. 

For the entire forecast period, TRACON operations grow an average of 1.2 percent a year, totaling 53.4 

million in 2025.

Over the forecast period, commercial aircraft operations at FAA TRACONs are forecast to increase at 1.4 

percent per year with increases in air carrier activity surpassing commuter/air taxi activity. General aviation 

operations at FAA TRACONs are projected to grow 1.0 percent a year, reflecting the relatively slow growth 

in the general aviation fleet and hours. Military activity is expected to remain at its 2008 level (2.4 million) of 

activity throughout the forecast period.

En Route Centers

The number of IFR aircraft handled at FAA en route traffic control centers decreased 3.1 percent to 45.3 

million in 2008, as all user groups except commuter/air taxi posted declines in activity. Activity at en route 

centers is forecast to decrease by 6.0 percent in 2009 mirroring the downturn in commercial and general 

aviation activity. Growth in en-route activity resumes in 2010 (up 2.1 percent) led by increases in air carrier 

activity. After 2010 through the balance of the forecast period, en route activity increases 2.4 percent 

14 TRACON operations consist of itinerant IFR and VFR arrivals and departures at all airports in the domain of the TRACON as well as 

IFR and VFR overflights. 

TRACON OPERATIONS

FISCAL YEARS 2008 - 2025

(4.0) (4.3)

1.6

(5.3)

(2.4)

1.8

-6.0

-5.0

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

2008 2009 2009-25

TOTAL COMMERCIAL

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
45

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

annually, reaching 61.8 million aircraft handled in 2025. Over the entire forecast period, commercial activity 

is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 2.1 percent, reflecting increases in the commercial 

fleet and aircraft stage lengths. During the same period, general aviation activity is projected to grow 1.3 

percent a year, reflecting the expected impact of additional business aviation activity. Military activity is 

held constant at the 2008 activity level throughout the forecast period.

Activity at FAA en route centers is growing faster than at FAA towered airports because more of the activity 

in en route centers is from the faster growing commercial sector and high-end (mainly turbine) general 

aviation flying. Much of general aviation activity at FAA towered airports, which is growing more slowly, is 

local in nature, and does not impact the centers.

IFR AIR CRAFT H ANDL ED 

AT F AA EN R O UTE CE NTERS

FISCAL YEARS 2008 - 2025

(3.1)

2.3

(6.0)

(1.9)

2.7

(6.7)

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

2008 2009 2009-25

TO T AL CO MM E RCIAL

ANNUAL PERCENT GROWTH
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

46

 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS

International industry development, growth, and investment over the past several years have allowed 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to evolve from remotely piloted vehicles with limited capabilities to 

semi and fully autonomous systems for commercial applications. There are some 100 U.S. companies, 

academic institutions, and government organizations developing over 300 UAS designs. Currently, the U.S. 

government uses unmanned aircraft for military combat, surveillance, and reconnaissance. 

The UAS term is used because it includes the entire system (aircraft, data links, control station and other 

elements). UAS’s also vary widely in size, shape, and capabilities. Some unmanned aircraft weigh 1,900 

pounds and can remain aloft for 30 hours or more, because there is no need for them to land to change 

pilots. Some are 6 inches long. Others can perform dangerous missions without risking loss of life. 

In its broadest context, there are three major market segments: military, civil government, and commercial. 

While market drivers and dynamics among these segments differ significantly, they share common 

objectives: to provide a service that cannot be accomplished by manned aircraft and/or to perform an 

existing manned operation at a lower cost. Because of increased interest and activity, UAS have the 

potential to become a major part of the commercial aerospace industry within the United States.

Working with industry, the FAA is starting to create regulations for small UAS’s to fly in the airspace. To this 

end, an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) comprised of industry, associations, and other government 

agencies has been formed. This ARC will recommend defining and developing necessary interim policy 

guidance with corresponding training material for operating a small size category UAS within the National 

Airspace System. 

Federal agencies are planning to increase their use of UAS’s. State and local governments envision using 

UAS’s to aid in law enforcement and firefighting. Potential commercial uses are also possible, for example, 

in real estate photography or pipeline inspection. UAS’s could perform some manned aircraft missions with 

less noise and fewer emissions.

The new UAS technologies under development today may have a profound impact on all aviation. The 

investments and the technological advances made by military organizations have generated a growing 

interest in their potential use for civil government, scientific research, and commercial applications. Once 

the regulatory framework is in place and developers can safely test and evaluate their products within the 

NAS, we expect significant growth in the civil and commercial UAS market.
47

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

 COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) licenses and 

regulates U.S. commercial space launch activity including launch vehicles and non-federal launch sites 

authorized by Executive Order 12465 and 49 US Code, Subtitle IX, Chapter 701 (formerly the Commercial 

Space Launch Act). Title 49 and the Executive Order also direct the Department of Transportation (carried 

out by the FAA) to encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial launches. AST’s mission is to license and 

regulate commercial launch and reentry operations and non-federal launch sites to protect public health 

and safety, the safety of property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.

Overview

Commercial space transportation generally consists of the launch of satellites into orbit for either 

commercial or government customers by private, non-government entities, called launch services 

providers. Commercial space transportation also covers suborbital launches, where a payload or vehicle is 

launched on a trajectory that briefly goes into space but returns to Earth rather than going into orbit, as well 

as the reentry of objects from space to Earth.

The FAA licenses several expendable vehicles used for commercial orbital launches. The most active 

include the Pegasus and Taurus, two small vehicles built and operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation 

(OSC); the Delta IV, a heavy-class vehicle and the Delta II, a medium-class vehicle, both built by United 

Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and marketed by Boeing 

Launch Services (BLS); the Zenit-3SL, a heavy-class vehicle built by the Ukrainian company KB Yuzhnoye 

for the multinational Sea Launch venture; the Atlas 5, a heavy-class vehicle built by ULA and marketed by 

Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS), and the Falcon 1, a small launch vehicle built and 

operated by SpaceX. Commercial vehicles under development include the heavy-class Falcon 9 vehicle 

by SpaceX and the medium-class Taurus II by OSC. From 1989 through the end of 2008, DOT/FAA has 

licensed 195 orbital and suborbital commercial launches.

Experimental Permits, for suborbital reusable vehicle development and test flights, were first granted 

by FAA in 2006 to Blue Origin and Armadillo Aerospace. Some permits have been granted for vehicles 

participating in the Lunar Lander Challenge, a competition to demonstrate technologies potentially 

applicable to both future lunar spacecraft and commercial suborbital vehicles, with $2 million in prizes 

offered by NASA’s Centennial Challenges program.

Six commercial spaceports, located in Alaska, California (Vandenberg Air Force Base and Mojave Air 

and Space Port), New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Virginia, currently have FAA launch site operator licenses. 

Several other commercial spaceports around the United States are under development.

Review of 2008

There were 11 FAA-licensed launches, all orbital, in 2008, up from 4 in 2007. BLS performed two Delta 

II launches, carrying one commercial and one Italian government remote sensing satellites. Sea Launch 

conducted five Zenit-3SL launches of commercial communications satellites. There were two Falcon 
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

48

1 launches, including a successful demonstration launch. LMCLS performed one Atlas V launch of a 

commercial communications satellite. OSC performed one Pegasus XL launch of a military satellite under 

an FAA license. There were also five suborbital permit flights during 2008. . 

FAA Licensed and Permitted Launches, 2007-2009

2007 2008 2009 Forecast

Licensed Launches 4 11 8-10

Permitted Launches 9 5 5-10

Worldwide there were 28 orbital commercial launches in 2008, compared to 23 in 2007. In addition to the 

11 FAA-licensed launches, Europe performed five commercial launches of its Ariane 5, Russia conducted 

11 launches of various vehicles, and Land Launch, a joint venture of Sea Launch and Space International 

Services, performed the inaugural launch of the Zenit-3SLB. There were 69 total worldwide commercial, 

civil, and military launches in 2008, with commercial launches representing about 41 percent of the total. 

For more details, see the Year in Review report available online at:

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/reports_studies/year_review/.

Global Forecast

In May 2008, the FAA and the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) 

published their annual global forecast for commercial launch demand, the 2008 Commercial Space 

Transportation Forecasts. The report forecasts an average of 27.4 commercial orbital launches per year of 

geosynchronous orbit (GSO) and non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) payloads through 2017. That annual 

average includes 16.2 launches of medium-to-heavy vehicles to deploy GSO satellites, 8.1 launches of 

medium-to-heavy vehicles to NGSO, and 3.1 launches to NGSO by small vehicles.

Co mme rc ia l Orb ita l La u n c h Fo re c a s t (1993-2017)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017

Ye ar

GSO

(Medium-to-large LVs)

NGSO

(Medium-to-large

LVs)

NGSO

(Small LVs )

Ac tual Fore ca s t
49

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Commercial GSO launches are used for communications satellites with masses ranging from 2,000 to over 

6,000 kilograms; satellite masses have tended to grow over time although there is still interest in smaller 

satellites. Demand for commercial NGSO launches spans a number of markets, including commercial 

remote sensing, science and technology demonstration missions (often for nations without an indigenous 

launch capability), and the replenishment and replacement of low Earth orbit communications satellite 

systems first launched in the late 1990s.

The GSO and NGSO forecasts are not a prediction of what will actually be launched but instead represent 

the expected demand for launch services, based on a variety of inputs. The complete forecast report is 

available at: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/reports_studies/forecasts/.
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

50

RISKS TO THE FORECAST 

While the demand for air transportation has proven to be resilient over time in the face of numerous 

challenges, there is a greater degree of uncertainty around the FAA’s current forecast of aviation demand 

than in the past. This is due in part, because never in the recent past have so many negative factors come 

together at once. The previous downturn in aviation demand was caused by the recession of 2001 and 

was exacerbated by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Economic growth returned by 2002 but air transportation 

demand rebounded more slowly and didn’t recover until 2004. The present recession downturn has 

been the result of numerous factors beginning with housing downturn that spread to clog credit markets 

and overall functioning of the global financial infrastructure. The impacts soon spread across the real 

sector of the economy in the US and the world. The extent and magnitude of these effects and their 

linkages to air transportation demand are not completely evident yet. While the FAA believes its current 

outlook for aviation demand and activity is attainable, future aviation activities in the near to mid-term will 

depend critically on how the broader economy evolves. Although commercial aviation has demonstrated 

tremendous flexibility by aggressively rationalizing supply and overall resilience of demand for air 

transportation still persists, risk and uncertainties are abound. Added to past risks, the economic slowdown 

and constrained financial markets now sit at the center of the ability of aviation to rebound. 

A number of risk factors were highlighted in last year’s forecast. The most notable was the risk of a deeper 

downturn and rising unemployment. The housing downturn in the U.S. deepened along with the financial 

crisis that has become global in scope. The US economy’s output and services, i.e., real GDP, contracted 

at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the third quarter of 2008 followed by a steep decline of 3.8 percent in 

the fourth quarter. For the entire calendar year, US real GDP increased only 1.3 percent . Many forecasters 

now predict that the economy will not recover until the end of 2009 or not before 2010. The consensus 

market forecast (Wall Street Journal) in February 2009 indicates that the US economy will contract 1 

percent in 2009. Moreover, global economic growth has stalled and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 

now predicts world growth to fall to 0.5 percent in 2009, its lowest rate since World War II. As a result, 

advanced economies including the US, Europe and Japan are expected to register declines in output 

ranging between 1 and 4 percent. The financial strains remain acute despite numerous policy actions led 

primarily by the US, Europe, and China. The real economy is not expected to return to some functional 

normalcy without financial recovery accompanied by free-flowing credit markets. The overall improvement 

in the economy will depend importantly on the turnaround in real estate market and improvement in 

balance sheets, financial institutions and households alike. 

Not surprisingly, a broad range of uncertainties prevail at the present time. To begin with, uncertainty 

surrounding the housing market continues to dominate the real sector of the economy. Faced with an almost 

25 percent decline in housing prices (S&P Case-Shiller Index), a large inventory of housing stocks persist. 

According to National Association of Realtors, housing inventory in 2008 had climbed to over 4 million; a 

34 percent increase from the peak of the market. The large inventory of homes on the market continues 

to create downward pressure on housing prices across the country leading to increasing possibilities of 

additional mortgage defaults. A deteriorating mortgage profile continues to downgrade banks and investors’ 

real estate portfolio alike. Any improvement in banks’ balance sheet is intricately linked to improvement 

in the real estate market. Likewise, a deteriorating real estate market and the decline in the overall asset 

market have resulted in a severe loss of wealth. Without a floor on prices, the overall trend in the housing 

market creates a downward spiral that is unsustainable for long run growth prospects in the US and global 

economies. The overall turnaround in the demand situation thus depends on the turnaround in real estate 

market and improvement in balance sheets, financial institutions and households alike.
51

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

Despite the rapid decline in oil prices during the later half of 2008, there is considerable uncertainty as to 

the level of oil prices once economic growth resumes. Although the oil price forecast the FAA is using calls 

for a steady increase after 2009, the increase is relatively modest, with prices remaining well below $100/

barrel throughout the forecast period. Some forecasters are calling for a much sharper increase in the price 

of oil. In a January 2009 research note, CIBC analysts predicted that oil prices will reach $100/barrel by 

2010 (CIBC, 1/23/09). The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its 2009 Annual Energy Outlook 

is projecting oil prices to exceed $100/barrel by 2013. While falling oil prices give consumers an impetus 

for additional spending, including air travel and increases the chances for industry profitability, higher oil 

prices could lead to further shifts in consumer expenditures away from aviation, dampening a recovery 

in air transport demand. Furthermore, higher oil prices, especially in the near term, could wipe out any 

chance of industry profitability, continue to pressure airline costs, delay balance sheet improvement and 

discourage expansion plans or new orders for aircraft as carriers focus on increasing cash balances. 

One of the major lessons of the present recession is the renewed acknowledgement that the global 

economies are inherently coupled with the US economy. The linkages of the global economies to the US 

economy proved to be far stronger than was thought previously during the time of steady expansion. The 

sustained decline of personal consumption expenditures that beset the present US recession also brought 

down economies that depend critically on exporting to the US, the largest being the economies of Europe, 

China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Canada. Faced with declining US imports, the trade links between 

these other countries are proving not to be substantial enough to pull the world economy out of recession. 

As US trade volumes (both import and export) declined with the onset of the recession, so did the 

economic growth in the rest of the world. This has been further accelerated by the financial contagion now 

spreading across the globe. If there are defaults on debt payments by some of the emerging economies, 

this may further complicate balance sheets of those banks which are exposed to emerging markets. 

Although FAA uses the latest administration economic projections to derive the forecasts of aviation 

demand, an important part of the FAA forecast process is to compare the administration forecasts with 

other economic forecasts. FAA typically compares administration economic forecasts to those of Global 

Insight, Inc., a leading economic consulting firm. Unlike prior forecasts, Global Insight’s current U.S. GDP 

forecast is much lower than the latest administration projections. While the administration is projecting 

U.S. GDP growth to average 3.8 percent a year between 2009 and 2013, Global Insight is forecasting U.S. 

GDP growth to average 2.4 percent a year during the same period. In addition, Global Insight regularly 

provides alternative forecasts and assigns a likelihood of their occurrence along with the likelihood of 

the baseline forecast occurring. In January 2009, Global Insight assigned the likelihood of their baseline 

forecast at 60 percent. An “optimistic scenario”—faster economic growth in the rest of the world, impacts 

of the stimulus package occurring sooner, and a continuation of the high worker productivity rates—that 

results in lower unemployment and a faster recovery in the U.S. was assigned a 20 percent likelihood by 

Global Insight. A faster recovery with higher economic growth would lead to increased demand for aviation 

services and boosts the industry’s profitability further

Global Insight also constructed a pessimistic scenario which was assigned a 20 percent likelihood. In this 

pessimistic scenario, the financial crisis worsens resulting in lower consumer spending, weaker business 

investment, slower world economic growth and weak productivity growth. The current recession becomes 

the worst downturn since the Great Depression and the recovery coming out of recession is slower than 

their baseline forecast. We used the pessimistic scenario as inputs to our domestic traffic industry model 

to quantify the impact of a deeper recession on US airline industry traffic and capacity growth. In 2009, 

domestic passengers in the pessimistic scenario are only 0.7 percent lower than in our base forecast with 

RPMs 1.0 percent lower. However, the difference between the base forecast and the pessimistic scenario 
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

52

widens dramatically over the next 4 years so that by 2013, domestic passenger enplanements would be 

14.0 percent lower than in the base forecast and RPMs would be 15.4 percent lower. Domestic load factor 

was 5.3 points lower while yield was higher, driven by higher oil prices and slower low-cost carrier growth. 

Industry passenger revenue was 8.2 percent lower, hampering the industry’s drive for sustained profitability 

and balance sheet improvement.

One positive outcome from all the turmoil in 2008 was that U.S. airlines had already taken significant 

steps to rationalize domestic capacity before the downturn in demand. As noted earlier in this document, 

we anticipate a large decline in capacity (roughly 10 percent) in FY2009 as the industry took the lead in 

adjusting supply that is often necessary in the middle of a recession. The rationalized supply has given 

the industry fare flexibility and positioned itself to recover ahead of other sectors in the economy when 

economic growth returns. Furthermore, the reduction in capacity provides a rare look at the core network 

structure of air transportation in the US. With the cuts in capacity that are in place, airlines appear to be 

focusing their services in markets that are profitable. The resulting network structure should be more 

robust, even under such severe market pressure, and provide the foundation around which any long term 

investments can be made. 

At present, the outlook for further consolidation via mergers and acquisition (M&A) appears to be rather 

limited. With the recent mergers of US Airways and America West and Delta’s consolidation with Northwest, 

there appears to be little scope for further mergers in the US airline industry. The tightening of the credit 

markets that may continue over the near term has reduced the ability of the industry to finance additional 

mergers. However, US airlines are exploring other options including global alliances. Many of the major 

carriers in the US are members of global alliances that operate with some measure of anti-trust immunity 

from the US DOT. While anti-trust immunity may provide flexibility to airline operators across borders, 

it may create an anti-competitive environment in the marketplace. These market consolidating vehicles, 

particularly the anti-trust immunity provisions, may invite increased regulatory scrutiny. If such oversights 

are launched in the future, this will complicate the evolving structure of the airline industry and may impact 

demand via new regulations.

Also, the forecast assumes the addition of sizable numbers of regional jets into the fleet of regional carriers. 

However, the regional carriers’ future is closely linked to those of the larger network carriers. Should one 

or more of these large carriers cease to exist (because of financial difficulties or merger), certain regional 

carriers could find themselves either saddled with excess capacity or lack of sufficient capacity, or lack of 

feed traffic. The recent experience of the Delta and Northwest bankruptcies saw opportunities for regional 

flying substantially reduced.

 

Despite a 16 percent increase in business jet shipments in 2008, events during that last quarter of 2008 

have dampened the prospects in this sector for the next few years. First, the decision by Eclipse to enter 

into bankruptcy protection in November has tempered expectations about further growth in the VLJ 

market. The decision by Eclipse to enter into bankruptcy was driven primarily by a lack of additional credit 

due in part to the global credit crisis as well as the decision by DayJet, a leading operator of VLJs, to 

cease operations in November. These two events accelerated Eclipse’s decision to enter into bankruptcy 

protection. Given the developments in the last year, our forecast for this segment is significantly lower than 

last year’s forecast. How long the industry slowdown continues depends, in large part, on the recovery 

of the market for business jets. The market for business jets is largely dependent upon the growth in the 

economy and corporate profits and it is unknown how well this market will fare as corporate profits fall 

in the current environment. The current forecast assumes that 200-300 VLJs will enter the fleet a year, 

with the U.S. market growing to 4,875 by 2025. A key driver of the VLJ market is the on-demand air taxi 
53

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

industry. With the demise of the DayJet, the sector is much smaller now. The segment is now served by 

much smaller providers, such as Linear Air and North American Jet. Those who believe that the business 

model underlying DayJet was ill-suited for the time but that the VLJ is a sound aircraft (both operationally 

and economically) still tend to have relatively higher fleet forecasts. Those who are less sanguine about the 

prospects for the mass on-demand air taxi industry tend to have more conservative fleet forecasts. Given 

the uncertainty around the economic environment, the FAA leans on the conservative side of the forecast.

The mix of aircraft operating at most large hubs is also expected to become increasingly complex over 

the forecast period. The expected increases in the numbers of regional jets and VLJs will increase the 

complexities of the national airspace system and make the FAA’s job more challenging. The increased 

complexity of the mix of aircraft serves to compound the increases in workload strictly due to the 

increasing demand for aviation services projected over the forecast period. 

High levels of delays occurred at many U.S. airports in 2008 and could become a critical limit to growth 

over the forecast period. FAA’s forecasts of both demand and workload are unconstrained in that they 

assume that there will be sufficient infrastructure to handle the projected levels of activity. Should the 

infrastructure be inadequate and result in even more congestion and delays, it is likely that the forecasts 

of both demand and workload would not be achieved. The Department of Transportation and the FAA are 

examining a number of options to manage congestion, but the specific measures to be implemented and 

therefore their impact are unknown at this time.

Environmental and related energy concerns also pose a risk to the forecast. Concerns about aviation’s 

impact on the environment, which have accompanied its growth, could potentially restrict the ability of 

the aviation sector to grow to meet national economic and mobility needs. Airport expansion or new 

construction is often a contentious issue because of noise, air quality, and water quality concerns. 

Concerns about the climate impacts of aviation emissions are also growing. Although aviation currently 

accounts for 2 to 3 percent of climate change impacts, greenhouse emissions from the sector are expected 

to grow unless aggressively mitigated with new technology, renewable fuels, operational improvements 

and market measures. Market measures intended to control emissions, e.g., various emissions trading 

systems and charges being discussed, would add significant costs to the aviation sector that could both 

reduce demand and available funds for needed investments in new technology. Energy concerns are 

also rising, driven by spikes in fuel prices, supply and security issues, and the concerns about fossil fuel 

contributions to global climate change. All of these concerns could have a negative impact on the ability 

of the aviation system to meet the mobility needs of the traveling public in the future unless the technology, 

operational, and alternative fuel initiatives in the Next Generation Air Transportation System Plan are funded 

and implemented. Lack of progress on improving the environmental and energy outlook for the future 

fleet through breakthroughs in quieter, cleaner aircraft technologies and renewable fuels can drive more 

restrictions via standards or operating limitations on the fleet in service, which in turn may depress growth 

over the forecast period. 
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

54
55

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

APPENDIX I 

FORECAST ACCURACY

Forecasts, by their nature, have a degree of uncertainty incorporated in them. They involve not only 

statistical analyses and various scientific methods, but also judgment, and reliance on industry knowledge 

and the forecaster’s experience to incorporate industry trends not yet reflected in recent results. The FAA’s 

annual Aerospace Forecast is no exception. Given the volatile nature of the U.S. airline industry, it is not 

surprising that each year’s forecast would contain a certain degree of forecast variance. Therefore, FAA 

forecasters have tried to build forecast models that give a consistent and predictable pattern of results. 

Analysts relying on the forecasts produced by the models would then be able to adjust for the predictable 

variance from actual results.

The table below presents an analysis of the variance from historical results for five key forecast metrics 

during the FY 2003–FY 2008 forecast period. Although this brief period has experienced industry upheaval, 

FAA’s forecast methodology remained consistent during this time. For these reasons, inclusion of prior 

periods in an analysis of forecast variance might lead to inconclusive, or inaccurate, implications about the 

accuracy of FAA’s current forecast methodology.

The table contains the mean absolute percent errors for the projected values versus the eventual results 

for U.S. carriers’ domestic operations. Each metric has five values showing the relative forecast variance 

by the number of years in advance the preparation of the forecast took place. For example, the 3 Years 

column for ASM shows the mean absolute percent error was 6.5 percent for ASM forecasts prepared 3 

years in advance. For the period under examination, preparation of the forecasts for FY 2005, FY 2006, FY 

2007 and FY 2008 occurred in FY 2003, FY 2004, FY 2005, and FY 2006, respectively. 

Presenting forecast variances from actual data in such a manner simplifies a review of longer-term trends. 

Typically, one would expect the variances to decrease as the forecast year is closer to the year the forecast 

is prepared. Presenting forecast variances in this way allows an examination of changes in the relative 

variances by time horizon, signaling when dramatic shifts in accuracy occur. 
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

56

Examination of the forecast variances reveals several items. First, all the metrics examined, show declining 

variances as the forecast time horizon decreases, as expected, although the variances in yield increase 

somewhat between Year 3 and Year 5. The largest variances were found in the forecasts of ASMs and 

Yield, the two variables most directly affected by carrier business decisions. However, for both of these 

variables the largest declines in variance occur between Year 3 and Year 1. Second, the FAA’s forecast 

model produces relatively small variances for both of the passenger traffic metrics, Enplanements and 

RPMs, with none of the forecast variances exceeding 6.0 percent for any forecast time horizon examined. 

Third, the relative divergence in forecast variances between RPMs and ASMs suggests errors in forecasting 

load factor.

The examination of the forecast variances over time suggests two primary implications. First, added focus 

on load factor might improve the model. Currently, load factor is calculated by dividing the forecast RPMs 

by forecast ASMs. The large difference between the RPM forecast variance and ASM forecast variance 

beyond Year 2, indicates a relatively large variance in the forecast of load factor, one of the critical elements 

in converting passenger demand into aviation activity. However, the difference between the RPM forecast 

variance and ASM forecast variance narrows as the time horizon shortens, suggesting that that the near 

term load factor forecasts are coming closer to the mark. All other things being equal, large variances in 

forecasts of load factor will lead to large variances in the long-term forecasts of aviation activity, as can 

been seen in the variances of the IFR aircraft handled forecasts. 

Furthermore, ASMs are becoming increasingly difficult to forecast beyond a relatively short time horizon, 

as carriers often react to changing market conditions. The relatively large variances in the ASM forecasts 

suggest that carriers have reacted by permanently removing capacity. Such capacity reductions can be 

identified in the short term by using advance schedule information. However, FAA’s longer-term forecasts 

rely on anticipated aircraft deliveries and retirements as well as historic relationships between economic 

activity and capacity deployed. Given the volatile nature of many of the factors that may influence longer 

term ASM forecasts, a simpler approach, such as RPMs divided by load factor, may improve the long run 

accuracy of the ASM forecasts. 
57

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

APPENDIX II 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This document was prepared by the Statistics and Forecast Branch (APO-110), Office of Aviation Policy 

and Plans, under the direction of Mr. Roger D. Schaufele, Jr. The following individuals were responsible for 

individual subject areas:

Economic Environment: Dipasis Bhadra (202) 267-9027

Cheryl L. Miner (202) 493-4236

Commercial Air Carriers:

– Passengers Roger D. Schaufele, Jr. (202) 267-3306

Cheryl L. Miner (202) 493-4236

 Kathy Lizotte (202) 267-3302

– Cargo Andrea Schandler (202) 267-3323

General Aviation:

– Forecasts Roger D. Schaufele, Jr. (202) 267-3306

– Survey Data Roger D. Schaufele, Jr. (202) 267-3306

FAA Workload Measures:

– Forecasts Roger D. Schaufele, Jr. (202) 267-3306

– Data Information Systems Branch, APO-130

Unmanned Aircraft 

Systems: Michael Lukacs, Aircraft Regulatory Analysis, 

APO-320 (202) 267-9641

Commercial Space: John Sloan, Commercial Space Transportation, 

AST-100 (202) 267-7989

Text and Table Preparation: Statistics and Forecast Branch Staff 

Forecast Conference 

Planner: Linda Baranovics (202) 267-7924

APO Websites:

– Forecasts/Statistical 

 Publications http://www.faa.gov/data_statistics

– APO Data System http://aspm.faa.gov

Email:

– APO staff first name.last name@faa.gov
FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

58
59

FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2009–2025

FORECAST TABLES
60

TABLE 1

U.S. SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC FORECASTS

ECONOMIC

VARIABLE

FISCAL YEAR 2009 FISCAL YEAR 

1ST. QTR. 2ND QTR. 3RD QTR. 4TH QTR. 1ST QTR. 2ND QTR. 3RD 

Real GDP1

(Billions of 2000$)Seasonally Adjusted Annual RateRefiners’ Acquisition Cost - Average2(Dollars)Seasonally Adjusted Annual RateConsumer Price Index1(1982-84 equals 100)Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate

11,599.5

-3.8%

54.50

-94.8%

213.8

-8.8%

11,472.9

-4.3%

29.98

-90.8%

212.1

-3.1%

11,467.0

-0.2%

27.47

-29.5%

213.6

2.9%

11,532.2

2.3%

32.16

87.7%

214.9

2.3%

11,635.7

3.6%

36.22

60.9%

215.5

1.1%

11,733.8

3.4%

41.59

73.9%

216.2

1.3%

11

3

4

4

2

1

1 Source: Office of Management and Budget, February 2009.2 Source: Global Insight, US Economic Outlook, January 2009.
61

TABLE 2

U.S. LONG-TERM ECONOMIC FORECASTS

FISCALYEAR

GROSS

DOMESTIC PRODUCT1

(Billions 2000$)

CONSUMER PRICE

INDEX1

(1982-84=100)

REFINERS’ ACQUISITION C

AVERAGE2

(Dollars per barrel)

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth2000-082008-102010-202008-25

9,762.89,885.1

10,002.410,208.310,593.410,917.111,227.311,457.811,676.611,517.911,790.712,238.912,792.613,350.413,780.614,139.614,507.814,885.515,272.815,670.416,077.816,495.916,924.717,364.817,816.318,279.5

2.3%0.5%3.1%2.7%

170.75176.25178.88183.10187.32193.45200.60205.31214.43213.59216.63220.27224.60229.31234.13239.05244.06249.19254.42259.77265.22270.79276.48282.28288.21294.26

2.9%0.5%2.0%1.9%

26.7025.7921.9828.0133.6547.2159.9560.78

101.53

36.0342.8266.3379.2885.0187.1681.8179.2779.3179.3480.0681.7483.4585.2186.9988.8290.69

18.2%

-35.1%

6.7%

-0.7%

1 Source: 2008-2019; Office of Management and Budget, February 2009. Extrapolated to 2025.2 Source: 2008-2019; Global Insight, US Economic Outlook, January 2009. Extrapolated to 2025.
62

TABLE 3

INTERNATIONAL GDP FORECASTS BY TRAVEL REGION

CALENDAR

YEAR

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

(In Billions of 2005 U.S. Dollars)

CANADA

EUROPE/

AFRICA/

MIDDLE EAST

LATIN AMERICA/

MEXICO

JAPAN/PACIFIC

BASIN/CHINA/OTHER

ASIA/AUSTRALIA/

N. ZEALAND

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth2000-082008-102010-202008-25

1,000.71,018.61,048.41,068.11,101.41,133.11,168.31,200.01,208.21,190.71,220.71,268.81,312.61,354.81,391.91,424.61,459.71,495.11,532.11,567.51,603.21,641.41,681.41,720.81,763.21,804.9

2.4%0.5%2.8%2.4%

15,291.815,587.415,832.916,118.316,602.617,050.617,682.818,264.918,580.918,348.118,499.718,922.319,437.519,954.320,469.720,992.621,517.222,058.622,612.623,178.623,749.224,328.624,911.425,505.526,110.226,727.0

2.5%

-0.2%

2.5%2.2%

2,161.02,173.72,179.92,216.32,348.42,452.42,583.62,722.42,827.42,849.22,948.03,065.23,188.73,316.53,450.53,589.93,733.13,880.94,033.54,191.54,353.34,521.04,694.64,873.35,057.25,248.1

3.4%2.1%4.0%3.7%

8,786.78,987.29,288.69,673.3

10,184.510,680.111,260.211,916.912,338.512,508.313,079.613,839.814,595.515,342.516,098.216,874.417,664.918,479.819,309.420,156.921,025.221,917.422,835.723,794.224,795.925,838.4

4.3%3.0%4.9%4.4%

Source: Global Insight, February 2009.
63

TABLE 4

INTERNATIONAL GDP FORECASTS — SELECTED AREAS/COUNTRIES

CALENDAR

YEAR

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

(In Billions of 2005 U.S. Dollars)

NORTH

AMERICA

(NAFTA)

EUROZONE UNITED KINGDOM JAPAN 

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth2000-082008-102010-202008-25

12,871.412,971.213,186.213,501.713,990.014,402.114,824.115,143.215,314.614,944.515,280.815,773.316,233.616,656.317,106.417,594.718,108.418,647.119,230.219,757.920,299.520,811.221,342.621,878.222,438.023,033.5

2.2%

-0.1%

2.9%2.4%

9,383.79,566.89,664.89,746.39,935.7

10,117.310,420.810,698.310,799.510,596.010,615.410,783.210,996.611,209.211,416.011,625.811,834.312,050.412,270.312,496.612,718.612,943.613,167.113,392.313,621.013,853.6

1.8%

-0.9%

1.8%1.5%

2,018.22,067.82,111.22,170.72,230.62,276.52,341.12,412.42,431.62,360.12,360.52,406.32,475.92,539.52,601.22,663.42,727.02,791.42,857.32,924.12,990.53,057.23,122.33,187.33,252.93,318.6

2.4%

-1.5%

2.4%1.8%

4,272.44,279.24,290.84,353.44,471.74,557.54,650.64,760.34,753.94,647.44,741.74,891.14,987.45,062.45,135.35,202.55,257.55,301.65,338.05,369.35,396.45,418.95,439.55,459.45,479.15,498.2

1.3%

-0.1%

1.3%0.9%

Source: Global Insight, February 2009.
64

TABLE 5

U.S. COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS1

TOTAL SCHEDULED U.S. PASSENGER TRAFFIC

FISCALYEAR

REVENUE PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS (Millions) REVENUE PASSENGER M

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM DOMESTIC INTERNATION

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

641.2625.8575.1587.8628.5669.5668.4690.1679.6626.5638.9665.6698.6732.1752.4770.0789.1807.3823.9840.3857.8875.7894.0912.9932.2952.1

0.7%

-3.0%

3.0%2.0%

56.456.751.253.360.567.471.675.377.875.877.781.185.089.093.197.3

101.6106.1110.7115.5120.5125.7130.9136.3142.0147.9

4.1%

-0.1%

4.5%3.9%

697.6682.5626.3641.2689.0737.0740.0765.3757.4702.3716.5746.6783.6821.1845.5867.3890.7913.4934.6955.8978.3

1,001.31,024.91,049.21,074.21,100.0

1.0%

-2.7%

3.2%2.2%

512.8 507.9 473.4 492.7 540.2 573.2 582.4 600.5 594.4541.4555.8584.8620.4656.8680.1700.7723.2745.0765.1785.3806.7828.7851.4874.8898.9923.7

1.9%

-3.3%

3.8%2.6%

181.8183.3158.2155.6177.0197.2208.5221.2233.1227.2234.0245.6258.5271.3284.9299.1314.0329.5345.6362.4380.0397.9416.2435.2455.2476.2

3.2%0.2%5.0%4.3%

* Source: Forms 41 and 298-C, U.S. Department of Transportation.

1 Sum of U.S. Mainline and Regional Air Carriers.
65

TABLE 6

U.S. COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS1

SCHEDULED PASSENGER CAPACITY, TRAFFIC, AND LOAD FACTORS

FISCAL

YEAR

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL 

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(BIL)

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

726.6732.1681.8684.2730.2755.2740.2752.5749.3682.1699.2726.5764.2804.6833.1859.6885.7912.1939.2967.0995.8

1,025.41,056.01,087.61,120.21,153.9

0.4%

-3.4%

3.6%2.6%

512.8507.9473.4492.7540.2573.2582.4600.5594.4541.4555.8584.8620.4656.8680.1700.7723.2745.0765.1785.3806.7828.7851.4874.8898.9923.7

1.9%

-3.3%

3.8%2.6%

70.669.469.472.074.075.978.779.879.379.479.580.581.281.681.681.581.781.781.581.281.080.880.680.480.280.1

239.3246.6212.3206.5223.0248.5261.3275.9291.9288.9297.2311.8327.8343.7360.6378.3396.8416.0436.0456.8478.6500.7523.3546.9571.5597.5

2.5%0.9%4.9%4.3%

181.8183.3158.2155.6177.0197.2208.5221.2233.1227.2234.0245.6258.5271.3284.9299.1314.0329.5345.6362.4380.0397.9416.2435.2455.2476.2

3.2%0.2%5.0%4.3%

76.074.374.575.379.479.479.880.279.978.778.778.878.978.979.079.179.179.279.379.379.479.579.579.679.679.7

965.9978.7894.1890.8953.3

1,003.61,001.51,028.41,041.2

971.0996.5

1,038.31,092.01,148.31,193.71,237.91,282.51,328.11,375.11,423.91,474.41,526.11,579.31,634.51,691.71,751.3

0.9%

-2.2%

4.0%3.1%

* Source: Forms 41 and 298-C, U.S. Department of Transportation.

1 Sum of U.S. Mainline and Regional Air Carriers.
66

TABLE 7

U.S. COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS1

TOTAL SCHEDULED U.S. INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC

FISCALYEAR

REVENUE PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS REVENUE PASSENGER 

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC TOTAL INTERNATIONAL ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIF

(Mil) (Mil) (Mil) (Mil) (Bil) (Bil) (Bi

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

20.920.518.017.819.921.622.524.126.025.526.628.229.530.731.833.034.235.536.838.139.640.942.343.745.146.6

2.8%1.2%4.0%3.5%

24.324.823.625.128.332.535.237.638.638.038.740.242.244.446.748.951.253.656.058.561.163.866.769.772.876.0

5.9%0.2%4.7%4.1%

11.211.4

9.6

10.512.313.213.913.613.212.312.312.713.313.914.615.416.217.118.018.919.920.921.923.024.125.3

2.1%

-3.4%

4.9%3.9%

56.456.751.253.360.567.471.675.377.875.877.781.185.089.093.197.3

101.6106.1110.7115.5120.5125.7130.9136.3142.0147.9

4.1%

-0.1%

4.5%3.9%

87.186.274.773.282.189.593.9

102.2112.7111.1116.6124.0130.8136.4142.1148.1154.3160.8167.4174.3181.4188.5195.4202.7210.2218.0

3.3%1.7%4.5%4.0%

36.337.634.536.241.448.653.657.760.060.261.363.767.171.275.780.385.190.195.4

100.9106.7112.7119.1125.8132.9140.5

6.5%1.1%5.7%5.1%

58.59.49.46.53.59.61.61.60.56.56.58.60.63.67.70.74.78.82.87.91.96.

101106112117

0.4%

-3.6

5.1%4.0%

* Source: Forms 41 and 298-C, U.S. Department of Transportation.

1 Sum of U.S. Mainline and Regional Air Carriers.
67

TABLE 8

U.S. AND FOREIGN FLAG CARRIERS

TOTAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC TO/FROM THE UNITED STATES

CALENDAR

YEAR

TOTAL PASSENGERS BY WORLD TRAVEL AREA (Millions)

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC U.S./CANADA TRANSBORDER 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

53.047.543.444.648.949.949.853.357.056.458.461.865.969.873.176.279.382.685.989.392.796.399.8

103.5107.3111.1

0.9%1.2%4.7%4.0%

40.838.836.939.142.744.247.148.649.348.951.154.057.360.663.466.269.172.175.278.481.885.389.092.896.7

100.8

2.4%1.9%4.8%4.3%

26.023.022.320.223.825.125.626.325.925.827.329.131.133.134.936.738.640.642.744.947.249.752.455.158.161.3

0.0%2.7%5.6%5.2%

20.818.617.616.918.519.721.021.521.721.322.123.224.425.526.427.228.128.929.830.731.632.633.634.635.736.8

0.5%1.0%3.6%3.2%

* Sources: Atlantic, Pacific, and Latin America, INS Form I-92, U.S. Department of Commerce; U.S./ Canada Transborder, Transport 
68

TABLE 9

U.S. COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS 1

SEATS PER AIRCRAFT AND PASSENGER TRIP LENGTH

FISCALYEAR

AVERAGE SEATS PER AIRCRAFT AVERAGE PASSENGER TR

DOMESTIC

(Seats)

INT’L.

(Seats)

SYSTEM

(Seats)

DOMESTIC

(Miles)

INT’L.

(Miles)

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

129.3127.6125.9123.0121.7120.4120.1120.4120.8120.1120.6120.8120.8120.5120.2120.3120.5120.8121.0121.1121.3121.5121.6121.8121.9122.1

230.6226.9221.5220.2218.7217.1215.0215.9217.5217.0217.5218.1218.6219.0219.4219.8220.4220.9221.4221.9222.4222.9223.3223.8224.2224.7

145.0143.5140.3137.0135.8135.3135.7136.6138.0138.5139.1139.5139.5139.3139.2139.6140.2140.8141.3141.8142.3142.8143.2143.7144.1144.6

799.8811.6823.2838.1859.6856.2871.4870.2874.6864.1870.0878.6888.0897.1903.8910.1916.6922.8928.7934.6940.5946.4952.4958.3964.3970.2

3,223.23,233.93,088.82,917.62,927.32,924.62,911.52,939.32,996.42,996.13,012.83,029.73,042.03,048.23,059.33,074.23,090.03,105.83,121.83,137.53,152.73,166.53,179.93,192.63,204.93,219.6

* Source: Forms 41 and 298-C, U.S. Department of Transportation.

1 Sum of U.S. Mainline and Regional Air Carriers.
69

TABLE 10

U. S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIERS

SCHEDULED PASSENGER TRAFFIC

FISCALYEAR

REVENUE PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS

(Millions)

REVENUE PASSENGER 

(Billions)

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM DOMESTIC INTERNATIONA

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

561.5 545.4486.5482.8502.6523.1516.2533.9522.3476.2485.1505.0530.5555.9569.0580.2593.1605.0615.1624.8635.3645.9656.7667.7678.8690.2

-0.9%-3.6%

2.7%1.7%

53.353.548.450.657.364.268.171.974.372.674.377.681.385.189.193.197.3

101.7106.1110.8115.7120.6125.7131.0136.5142.2

4.3%0.0%4.5%3.9%

614.8598.9534.8533.4559.9587.3584.4605.7596.6548.8559.4582.6611.8641.0658.1673.3690.4706.7721.2735.6750.9766.5782.4798.6815.3832.4

-0.4%-3.2%

3.0%2.0%

490.0483.6443.6453.4488.5509.6513.9529.9522.0473.2484.7509.2539.8570.9589.1605.0622.7639.5654.5669.3685.1701.2717.6734.5751.8769.4

0.8%

-3.6%

3.5%2.3%

181.0182.3157.3154.8175.9195.8206.8219.5231.3225.5232.2243.7256.5269.2282.7296.8311.6327.0343.0359.7377.2394.9413.1432.0451.9472.7

3.1%0.2%5.0%4.3%

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
70

TABLE 11

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIERS

SCHEDULED PASSENGER CAPACITY, TRAFFIC, AND LOAD FACTORS

FISCALYEAR

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SY

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(BIL)

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

688.3690.7633.1623.7654.2665.1648.7659.0651.0589.1602.4623.6654.5687.6709.2729.3748.9768.5788.6809.1830.2851.8874.0896.7920.1944.0

-0.7%-3.8%

3.3%2.2%

490.0483.6443.6453.4488.5509.6513.9529.9522.0473.2484.7509.2539.8570.9589.1605.0622.7639.5654.5669.3685.1701.2717.6734.5751.8769.4

0.8%

-3.6%

3.5%2.3%

71.270.070.172.774.776.679.280.480.280.380.581.782.583.083.183.083.283.283.082.782.582.382.181.981.781.5

238.0244.9210.8205.1221.3246.3258.9273.4289.3286.5294.7309.1325.0340.8357.6375.2393.5412.6432.5453.2474.9496.9519.3542.7567.2593.0

2.5%0.9%4.9%4.3%

181.0182.3157.3154.8175.9195.8206.8219.5231.3225.5232.2243.7256.5269.2282.7296.8311.6327.0343.0359.7377.2394.9413.1432.0451.9472.7

3.1%0.2%5.0%4.3%

76.074.474.675.579.579.579.980.379.978.778.878.878.979.079.179.179.279.279.379.479.479.579.579.679.779.7

926.2935.7844.0828.8875.5911.4907.6932.4940.3875.6897.1932.7979.5

1,028.41,066.81,104.41,142.41,181.21,221.11,262.41,305.11,348.71,393.31,439.41,487.31,537.0

0.2%

-2.3%

3.8%2.9%

1111111

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
71

TABLE 12

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIERS

SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS

FISCALYEAR

REVENUE PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS (MIL)

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC TOTA

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

20.920.518.017.819.921.622.524.126.025.526.628.229.530.731.833.034.235.536.838.139.640.942.343.745.146.6

2.8%1.2%4.0%3.5%

21.221.720.722.325.229.331.734.235.134.735.336.738.540.642.744.846.949.151.453.756.258.861.564.367.270.3

6.5%0.3%4.7%4.2%

11.211.4

9.6

10.512.313.213.913.613.212.312.312.713.313.914.615.416.217.118.018.919.920.921.923.024.125.3

2.1%

-3.4%

4.9%3.9%

53.353.548.450.657.364.268.171.974.372.674.377.681.385.189.193.197.3

101.7106.1110.8115.7120.6125.7131.0136.5142.2

4.3%0.0%4.5%3.9%

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Note: Detail may not add to total because of rounding.
72

TABLE 13

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIERS

SCHEDULED PASSENGER CAPACITY, TRAFFIC, AND LOAD FACTORS

BY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL REGIONS

FISCAL

YEAR

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC 

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(BIL)

RPMs

(BIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASM

(BI

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

109.9112.9

97.093.7

100.5108.6115.8126.6141.0142.5149.4158.6167.1174.1181.2188.5196.2204.2212.3220.7229.5238.1246.6255.4264.5274.0

3.2%2.9%4.4%4.0%

87.186.274.773.282.189.593.9

102.2112.7111.1116.6124.0130.8136.4142.1148.1154.3160.8167.4174.3181.4188.5195.4202.7210.2218.0

3.3%1.7%4.5%4.0%

79.276.477.078.181.782.481.180.780.078.078.178.278.378.478.578.678.778.878.979.079.179.279.379.479.579.6

51.453.050.651.157.265.469.472.773.475.176.579.483.588.794.2

100.1106.1112.4119.0125.9133.2140.8148.8157.3166.2175.7

4.5%2.1%5.7%5.3%

35.536.633.635.440.347.251.955.958.258.459.561.865.169.173.578.082.787.692.898.1

103.8109.7116.0122.6129.6137.0

6.4%1.2%5.7%5.2%

69.069.266.569.370.472.274.976.979.377.877.877.977.978.078.078.078.078.078.078.078.078.078.078.078.078.0

76.679.163.260.363.672.373.774.174.968.968.871.274.478.182.286.691.396.1

101.3106.7112.2118.0123.9130.1136.5143.4

-0.3%-4.2%

5.0%3.9%

58.459.449.046.253.559.261.161.460.456.056.058.060.763.767.170.774.678.682.887.391.996.7

101.7106.7112.1117.8

0.4%

-3.6%

5.1%4.0%

76.275.277.576.684.281.882.882.980.681.481.481.581.581.681.681.781.781.881.881.981.982.082.082.182.182.2

238244210205221246258273289286294309325340357375393412432453474496519542567593

2.50.94.94.3

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
73

TABLE 14

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIER FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

SEATS PER AIRCRAFT MILE

FISCALYEAR

DOMESTIC

INTERNATIONAL 

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC TOTAL 

(Seats) (Seats) (Seats) (Seats) (Seats) 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

148.8146.6148.0148.5149.7150.4150.5150.6150.0149.2149.7150.0149.5148.9148.4148.5148.9149.3149.5149.7150.0150.2150.4150.6150.8151.0

233.7232.6233.8231.5231.6230.8229.4229.2229.2229.7230.2230.7231.2231.7232.2232.7233.2233.7234.2234.7235.2235.7236.2236.7237.2237.7

179.5174.7172.5171.7174.4175.5175.2176.2177.8178.3178.8179.3179.8180.3180.8181.3181.8182.3182.8183.3183.8184.3184.8185.3185.8186.3

307.8304.1295.2287.6281.8278.7274.4279.6280.6281.4282.1282.9283.6284.4285.1285.9286.6287.4288.1288.9289.6290.4291.1291.9292.6293.4

236.6233.6228.6224.9224.1223.4221.4222.1223.4222.7223.1223.7224.2224.6224.9225.3225.8226.2226.6227.0227.5227.9228.3228.7229.1229.5

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
74

TABLE 15

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIER FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

AVERAGE PASSENGER TRIP LENGTH

FISCALYEAR

DOMESTIC

INTERNATIONAL 

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA PACIFIC TOTAL 

(Miles) (Miles) (Miles) (Miles) (Miles) 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

872.6886.7911.8939.1972.0974.1995.5992.7999.4993.6999.3

1,008.31,017.61,027.01,035.31,042.81,050.01,057.01,064.11,071.21,078.41,085.61,092.81,100.11,107.41,114.8

4,168.14,211.84,147.54,105.44,125.74,133.14,175.44,247.84,332.74,354.94,375.74,400.54,425.74,447.04,468.54,490.04,511.64,533.44,550.94,568.44,586.14,603.84,621.64,639.54,657.54,675.5

1,675.21,688.31,622.51,588.31,599.71,611.11,637.01,634.31,654.81,682.81,684.41,684.41,690.91,703.71,721.51,742.81,762.81,783.01,805.21,825.91,846.81,866.21,886.61,907.21,927.21,949.4

5,219.95,228.85,077.64,419.64,365.74,466.14,390.44,515.14,583.54,542.54,556.74,565.54,574.24,578.64,587.34,591.74,600.44,604.84,609.14,617.94,622.34,631.14,639.94,644.34,648.84,657.6

3,397.33,405.03,251.53,061.03,068.33,051.23,037.03,054.53,111.03,108.03,125.13,142.63,155.13,161.53,172.33,186.43,201.43,216.43,231.53,246.53,260.93,274.03,286.83,299.03,310.73,324.9

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
75

TABLE 16

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIER FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

PASSENGER YIELDS

FISCALYEAR

REVENUE PER PASSENGER MILE 

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SY

CURRENT $

(Cents)

FY 2008 $

(Cents)

CURRENT $

(Cents)

FY 2008 $

(Cents)

CURRENT $

(Cents)

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

14.0313.5312.1212.0811.5211.4512.3612.4513.0912.8912.9112.9412.9913.0613.1613.2713.3913.5113.6413.7713.8914.0214.1614.2914.4214.56

-0.9%-0.7%

0.7%0.6%

17.6216.4614.5314.1413.1812.6913.2113.0013.0912.9112.7812.5912.4012.2112.0511.9011.7611.6311.4911.3611.2311.1110.9810.8510.7310.61

-3.6%-1.2%-1.3%-1.2%

10.4610.34

9.789.92

10.4710.8711.6312.4513.3713.2313.2813.3713.5013.6513.8013.9514.1014.2614.4214.5714.7314.9015.0615.2315.4015.57

3.1%

-0.3%

1.0%0.9%

13.1212.5811.7211.6211.9912.0512.4313.0113.3713.2513.1513.0212.8912.7612.6412.5112.3912.2712.1512.0311.9111.8011.6811.5711.4511.34

0.2%

-0.8%-1.0%-1.0%

13.0612.6611.5111.5311.2411.2912.1512.4513.1813.0013.0313.0813.1613.2513.3613.4913.6313.7613.9114.0514.1914.3414.4914.6414.7914.94

0.1%

-0.6%

0.9%0.7%

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
76

TABLE 17

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIER FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER YIELDS BY REGION

FISCALYEAR

REVENUE PER PASSENGER MILE

ATLANTIC LATIN AMERICA1 PACIFIC TOTA

CURRENT $ FY 2008 $ CURRENT $ FY 2008 $ CURRENT $ FY 2008 $ CURR

(Cents) (Cents) (Cents) (Cents) (Cents) (Cents) (Ce

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

9.739.719.299.60

10.1510.7511.6412.4613.2913.0113.0913.1813.3013.4513.5913.7413.8914.0414.1914.3414.5014.6514.8114.9715.1315.30

4.0%

-0.7%

1.0%0.8%

12.2111.8211.1311.2411.6211.9112.4413.0113.2913.0212.9612.8312.7012.5712.4512.3212.2012.0811.9611.8411.7211.6011.4911.3711.2611.15

1.1%

-1.3%-1.0%-1.0%

13.0013.3812.4912.4012.2812.1612.6813.3714.1914.4014.4214.5114.6514.8114.9715.1315.2915.4615.6315.7915.9716.1416.3116.4916.6716.85

1.1%0.8%1.0%1.0%

16.3216.2814.9814.5214.0513.4813.5613.9614.1914.4214.2714.1313.9913.8513.7113.5713.4413.3013.1713.0412.9112.7812.6512.5212.4012.28

-1.7%

0.3%

-1.0%-0.8%

9.999.388.678.539.61

10.0410.7311.6112.7312.4612.4812.5612.6812.8212.9513.0913.2313.3813.5213.6713.8213.9614.1214.2714.4214.58

3.1%

-1.0%

1.0%0.8%

12.5411.4110.39

9.99

11.0011.1211.4712.1312.7312.4812.3512.2312.1011.9811.8611.7511.6311.5111.4011.2811.1711.0610.9510.8410.7310.62

0.2%

-1.5%-1.0%-1.1%

1010

9.79.9

10101112131313131313131314141414141415151515

3.1

-0.3

1.00.9

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.

1 Mainline Air Carrier Only
77

TABLE 18

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIER FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

JET FUEL PRICES

FISCALYEAR

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SY

CURRENT $ FY 2008 $ CURRENT $ FY 2008 $ CURRENT $ 

(Cents) (Cents) (Cents) (Cents) (Cents) 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

71.4982.3566.9782.22

100.75149.39194.69194.01291.13178.82175.56188.43197.32203.63209.04213.90218.28221.92225.38229.33232.44235.94239.57243.23246.97250.77

19.2%

-22.3%

2.8%

-0.9%

89.73

100.20

80.2996.29

115.32165.57208.12202.64291.13179.05173.78183.44188.40190.42191.46191.88191.78190.96189.95189.31187.93186.83185.81184.76183.74182.74

15.8%

-22.7%

0.8%

-2.7%

79.3586.1071.7186.01

105.76157.26204.69203.29314.43193.13189.61203.51213.12219.92225.77231.02235.74239.68243.41247.68251.05254.82258.74262.70266.73270.84

18.8%

-22.3%

2.8%

-0.9%

99.60

104.76

85.97

100.73121.05174.29218.81212.33314.43193.39187.68198.12203.47205.66206.78207.23207.12206.25205.16204.46202.97201.78200.68199.55198.45197.36

15.5%

-22.7%

0.8%

-2.7%

73.5783.3768.2883.28

102.07151.58197.72196.90298.78183.52180.17193.38202.51208.98214.53219.52224.01227.75231.30235.36238.55242.14245.87249.62253.46257.36

19.1%

-22.3%

2.8%

-0.9%

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.
78

TABLE 19

U.S. COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIERS

AIR CARGO REVENUE TON MILES1

FISCALYEAR

ALL-CARGO CARRIER RTMS 

 (Millions)

PASSENGER CARRIER RTMS

(Millions)

TO

DOMESTIC INT’L. TOTAL DOMESTIC INT’L. TOTAL DOMESTIC 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

10,283.5

9,992.39,629.9

11,153.413,040.813,007.912,481.212,792.712,160.411,172.911,478.611,918.112,327.312,736.313,065.113,377.413,698.214,028.014,366.814,715.215,073.115,441.015,819.116,207.616,607.017,017.5

2.1%

-2.8%

2.8%2.0%

7,573.17,380.08,202.1

11,766.812,748.314,581.215,475.216,163.115,595.414,539.515,336.216,444.917,674.818,937.620,255.621,682.823,183.424,754.826,419.628,162.329,979.931,855.133,843.135,948.638,198.040,617.2

9.4%

-0.8%

6.9%5.8%

17,856.617,372.417,832.022,920.225,789.127,589.027,956.428,955.927,755.825,712.426,814.828,363.030,002.131,673.933,320.735,060.236,881.638,782.840,786.442,877.545,053.047,296.149,662.252,156.354,805.057,634.7

5.7%

-1.7%

5.3%4.4%

4,415.23,945.63,337.43,819.13,300.13,081.73,229.43,025.32,148.01,942.71,964.32,006.92,042.22,075.42,093.72,107.82,121.82,135.52,149.02,162.32,175.42,188.12,200.62,212.62,224.42,235.7

-8.6%-4.4%

1.0%0.2%

7,784.67,166.96,594.06,775.17,373.48,547.78,483.58,051.39,026.38,307.08,649.19,154.29,711.0

10,269.010,839.911,451.112,081.912,729.813,405.014,098.114,806.315,520.116,265.117,041.717,860.118,730.0

1.9%

-2.1%

5.5%4.4%

12,199.911,112.5

9,931.4

10,594.210,673.511,629.511,712.811,076.611,174.310,249.710,613.411,161.111,753.212,344.512,933.613,558.914,203.714,865.315,554.016,260.416,981.717,708.318,465.719,254.320,084.520,965.7

-1.1%-2.5%

4.8%3.8%

14,698.713,937.912,967.414,972.416,340.916,089.615,710.515,818.014,308.413,115.613,442.913,925.014,369.514,811.715,158.915,485.215,820.016,163.516,515.816,877.517,248.517,629.118,019.618,420.318,831.419,253.2

-0.3%-3.1%

2.5%1.8%

* Source: Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation.1 Includes freight/express and mail revenue ton miles on mainline air carriers and regionals/commuters.2 Domestic figures from 2000 through this line exclude Airborne Express, Inc.; international figures for 2003 and beyond include new 

reporting of contract service by U.S. carriers for foreign flag carriers.

3 Domestic figures from this line and beyond include Airborne Express. Inc.
79

TABLE 20

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIERS

PASSENGER JET AIRCRAFT

CALENDARYEAR

LARGE NARROWBODY LARGE WIDEBODY LARGE

JETS

2 ENGINE 3 ENGINE 4 ENGINE TOTAL 2 ENGINE 3 ENGINE 4 ENGINE TOTAL 

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

3,3643,4123,3863,3783,4023,3083,3023,3543,1372,7602,9403,0403,1083,1313,1883,2463,3003,3643,4903,5643,6143,6533,7333,8143,9013,993

-0.9%-3.2%

2.1%1.4%

385187107

705737262913131311

82110000000000

-34.5%

0.0%

NANA

00000000111000000000000000

NA

0.0%

NANA

3,7493,5993,4933,4483,4593,3453,3283,3833,1512,7742,9543,0513,1163,1333,1893,2473,3003,3643,4903,5643,6143,6533,7333,8143,9013,993

-2.1%-3.2%

2.0%1.4%

424451472464473466463477455437463487521551567594624656687720764801842875913960

0.9%0.9%5.1%4.5%

169

89693734291912

997531000000000000

-30.7%-11.8%

NANA

120

85816753544947413838383838383429241812

600000

-12.6%

-3.7%

-16.9%

NA

713625622568560549531536505484508530562590605628653680705732770801842875913960

-4.2%

0.3%4.2%3.9%

4,4624,2244,1154,0164,0193,8943,8593,9193,6563,2583,4623,5813,6783,7233,7943,8753,9534,0444,1954,2964,3844,4544,5754,6894,8144,953

-2.5%-2.7%

2.4%1.8%
80

TABLE 21

U.S. MAINLINE AIR CARRIERS

CARGO JET AIRCRAFT

CALENDARYEAR

LARGE NARROWBODY LARGE WIDEBODY

2 ENGINE 3 ENGINE 4 ENGINE TOTAL 2 ENGINE 3 ENGINE 4 ENGINE 

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

166180175175174164162162162163168195239277315351373395413430448466485503522540

-0.3%

1.8%

10.3%

7.3%

332343315277277233220162149144134107

794720

00000000000

-9.5%-5.2%

NANA

176143114104102

907875635749412919

910000000000

-12.1%-11.8%

-100.0%

NA

674666604556553487460399374364351343347343344352373395413430448466485503522540

-7.1%-3.1%

2.5%2.2%

164190214203202246264276272280299323340358381405420436453473491509533555577600

6.5%4.8%5.1%4.8%

158192165165163193208213212214221228233237241247248245242241241241241241241241

3.7%2.1%0.9%0.8%

6885736975758086918584878989

100113124137150158166173181188196203

3.7%

-3.9%

7.0%4.8%
81

TABLE 22

TOTAL JET FUEL AND AVIATION GASOLINE FUEL CONSUMPTION

U.S. CIVIL AVIATION AIRCRAFT

(Millions of Gallons)

FISCALYEAR

JET FUEL AVIATION GASOLINE 

U.S. AIR CARRIERS1 GENERAL

AVIATION TOTAL AIR CARRIER GENERAL AVIATION 

DOMESTIC INT’L. TOTAL

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

14,74614,46912,65312,88613,50213,97813,46113,53813,06011,32211,43511,70612,13112,58412,83713,05013,24713,44013,63413,83114,03214,23614,44414,65614,87315,093

-1.5%-6.4%

2.1%0.9%

5,2975,3954,8444,9904,8355,3785,8516,0456,2796,3756,4626,6786,9177,1457,3867,6347,8898,1498,4148,6858,9659,2419,5159,796

10,08710,388

2.1%1.4%3.3%3.0%

20,04319,86417,49717,87618,33719,35619,31319,58319,33917,69617,89718,38319,04819,72920,22220,68321,13621,58922,04822,51722,99723,47723,95924,45324,95925,482

-0.4%-3.8%

2.5%1.6%

972918938932

1,2311,4491,5691,5431,5501,6561,7421,8231,9011,9822,0652,1422,2142,2862,3582,4262,4992,5732,6462,7202,7952,868

6.0%6.0%3.7%3.7%

21,01520,78218,43518,80819,56820,80520,88121,12720,88919,35319,63820,20620,94921,71122,28722,82523,34923,87524,40624,94325,49626,05026,60527,17327,75528,350

-0.1%-3.0%

2.6%1.8%

22222222222222222222222222

0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%

333279277272273363352351349345344342336331328326326327328329329329331335340346

0.6%

-0.6%-0.5%-0.1%

* Source: Air carrier jet fuel, Form 41, U.S. Department of Transportation; all others, FAA APO estimates.1 Includes both passenger (mainline and regional air carrier) and cargo carriers.
82

TABLE 23

U.S. REGIONAL CARRIER FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

FISCALYEAR

AVERAGE SEATS PER AIRCRAFT MILE AVERAGE PASSENGER TRIP LENGTH 

P

DOMESTIC

(Seats/Mile)

INT’L.

(Seats/Mile)

SYSTEM

(Seats/Mile)

DOMESTIC

(Miles)

INT’L.

(Miles)

SYSTEM

(Miles)

CUR

(C

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

38.440.542.844.346.648.649.349.952.853.754.655.456.256.857.658.359.059.760.561.262.062.763.464.164.865.6

4.0%1.7%1.3%1.3%

41.843.041.055.853.952.452.254.054.354.654.955.255.555.856.156.456.757.057.357.657.958.258.558.859.159.4

3.3%0.6%0.5%0.5%

38.540.642.844.546.848.749.450.052.853.754.755.456.256.857.558.258.959.760.461.161.962.663.364.064.765.4

4.0%1.7%1.2%1.3%

286.5302.1336.3373.9410.9434.7450.4451.5460.4453.6462.0470.5479.0487.5495.9504.4512.9521.3529.8538.3546.8555.2563.7572.2580.6589.1

6.1%0.2%1.7%1.5%

260.0302.9320.4302.0352.9434.2467.2518.1523.1528.1533.1538.1543.1548.1553.1558.1563.1568.1573.1578.1583.1588.1593.1598.1603.1608.1

9.1%1.0%0.9%0.9%

285.5302.1335.8372.1409.4434.7450.7452.9461.7455.2463.6472.0480.4488.8497.2505.6513.9522.3530.7539.1547.5555.9564.3572.7581.1589.5

6.2%0.2%1.7%1.4%

33222112222222222222222222

--

00

* Source: Form 41 and 298C, U.S. Department of Transportation.** Reporting carriers. 
83

TABLE 24

U.S. REGIONAL CARRIERS

SCHEDULED PASSENGER TRAFFIC

(In Millions)

FISCALYEAR

 REVENUE PASSENGERS REVENUE PASSENGER 

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

79.780.488.6

105.0125.9146.4152.2156.2157.4150.3153.8160.6168.1176.3183.4189.8196.0202.3208.8215.5222.5229.8237.3245.2253.4261.9

8.9%

-1.1%

3.8%3.0%

3.13.12.82.83.13.33.53.43.43.33.43.53.73.94.04.24.34.44.64.74.95.05.25.45.55.7

1.2%

-1.1%

3.8%3.0%

82.883.691.5

107.8129.1149.7155.7159.6160.8153.5157.2164.1171.8180.1187.4193.9200.3206.7213.3220.2227.4234.8242.5250.6258.9267.6

8.7%

-1.1%

3.8%3.0%

22,82524,29929,80739,25951,73763,65468,53270,52872,44268,15071,05675,54580,53485,91790,94095,719

100,511105,450110,600115,992121,642127,565133,775140,287147,114154,273

15.5%

-1.0%

5.5%4.5%

814947911837

1,1081,4171,6341,7721,8021,7371,7951,8921,9992,1152,2212,3192,4162,5162,6192,7272,8402,9583,0823,2113,3453,487

10.4%

-0.2%

4.7%4.0%

* Source: Form 41 and 298C, U.S. Department of Transportation.
84

TABLE 25

U.S. REGIONAL CARRIERS

SCHEDULED PASSENGER CAPACITY, TRAFFIC, AND LOAD FACTORS

FISCALYEAR

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SY

ASMs

(MIL)

RPMs

(MIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(MIL)

RPMs

(MIL)

% LOAD

FACTOR

ASMs

(MIL)

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

38,33241,41848,66060,49176,01590,02891,45893,45298,36892,90996,849

102,948109,725117,039123,862130,351136,859143,565150,558157,880165,553173,597182,031190,874200,147209,869

12.5%

-0.8%

5.5%4.6%

22,82524,29929,80739,25951,73763,65468,53270,52872,44268,15071,05675,54580,53485,91790,94095,719

100,511105,450110,600115,992121,642127,565133,775140,287147,114154,273

15.5%

-1.0%

5.5%4.5%

59.558.761.364.968.170.774.975.573.673.473.473.473.473.473.473.473.473.573.573.573.573.573.573.573.573.5

1,3381,6331,4921,4471,7482,2132,3872,5502,5752,4652,5292,6462,7772,9183,0433,1563,2663,3783,4933,6133,7383,8684,0034,1444,2904,443

8.5%

-0.9%

4.0%3.3%

814947911837

1,1081,4171,6341,7721,8021,7371,7951,8921,9992,1152,2212,3192,4162,5162,6192,7272,8402,9583,0823,2113,3453,487

10.4%

-0.2%

4.7%4.0%

60.858.061.157.863.464.068.569.570.070.571.071.572.072.573.073.574.074.575.075.576.076.577.077.578.078.5

39,67043,05150,15261,93877,76392,24093,84596,002

100,943

95,37499,378

105,594112,502119,957126,905133,507140,125146,942154,051161,494169,292177,465186,034195,018204,437214,312

12.4%

-0.8%

5.5%4.5%

* Source: Form 41 and 298C, U.S. Department of Transportation
85

TABLE 26

U.S. REGIONAL CARRIERS

PASSENGER AIRCRAFT

AS OFJANUARY 1

REGIONAL AIRCRAFT

LESS 

THAN

9 SEATS

10 TO 19

SEATS

20 TO 30

SEATS

31 TO 40 SEATS OVER 40 SEATS 

PROP JET TOTAL PROP JET* TOTAL NON 

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-102010-202008-25

470490490447451449453453451428410388370347329307284266244244239239235235230226

-0.5%-4.7%-5.3%-4.0%

343250253246237220204172107102

97928882787367635858575756565554

-13.6%

-4.8%-5.2%-3.9%

262248194137108

998879686562585652504643403737363635353534

-15.5%

-4.5%-5.3%-4.0%

474445396280280253224228180175169164157151146140135130124119113108103

979490

-11.4%

-3.1%-3.9%-4.0%

74

110118116

969896983824

9440000000000000

-8.0%

-51.3%

-100.0%-100.0%

548555514396376351320326218199178168161151146140135130124119113108103

979490

-10.9%

-9.6%-4.4%-5.1%

155148128106

898187

101121135150164180192206221234246260278295313332348362380

-3.0%

11.3%

7.0%7.0%

496672920

1,2171,4861,6301,6321,6561,6171,4001,5291,5811,6581,7281,7911,7891,7811,7851,7531,7771,8311,8981,9772,0652,1562,249

15.9%

-2.8%

1.8%2.0%

651820

10481323

1,5751,7111,7191,7571,7381,5351,6791,7451,8381,9201,9972,0102,0152,0312,0132,0552,1262,2112,3092,4132,5182,629

13.1%

-1.7%

2.4%2.5%

1,71,51,41,21,11,11,01,0

929088868582807876747273747576777778

-7.3-2.-1.8-1.0

*Independence Air A319 aircraft are included in Table 20 - U.S. Mainline Air Carriers Passenger Jet Aircraft.
86

TABLE 27

ACTIVE GENERAL AVIATION AND AIR TAXI AIRCRAFT

AS OF

DEC. 31

FIXED WING

ROTORCRAFT

EXPERIMENTAL SPORT AIRCRAFT OTHER

PISTON TURBINE

SINGLE

ENGINE

MULTIENGINE TOTAL TURBO PROP TURBO JET TOTAL PISTON TURBINE TOTAL

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

149,422 145,034 143,503 143,265 146,613 148,101 145,036147,569146,590145,735144,960144,250143,775143,510143,505143,530143,575143,720144,030144,440144,880145,415146,050146,780147,610148,545

-0.2%-0.6%

0.0%0.1%

21,091 18,192 17,483 17,491 18,469 19,412 18,70819,33719,13018,96518,79518,63018,45518,27518,09517,91017,72017,54017,34517,15516,96516,77016,58516,39516,20516,005

-1.2%-0.9%-1.0%-1.0%

170,513 163,226 160,986 160,756 165,082 167,513 163,744 166,906 165,720 164,700 163,755 162,880 162,230 161,785 161,600 161,440 161,295 161,260 161,375 161,595 161,845 162,185 162,635 163,175 163,815 164,550 

-0.4%-0.6%-0.1%

0.0%

5,762 6,596 6,841 7,689 8,379 7,942 8,0639,5149,6009,6659,7409,860

10,01510,18010,36010,54010,74010,93511,12511,31011,48011,65011,81011,96512,11012,245

6.6%0.7%1.7%1.4%

7,0017,787 8,355 7,997 9,298 9,823 

10,37910,38511,40012,32513,15513,94514,71015,53016,32517,10017,87018,63519,39020,15020,94521,76522,61023,45524,31025,165

6.3%7.4%4.8%4.8%

12,763 14,383 15,196 15,686 17,677 17,765 18,442 19,899 21,000 21,990 22,895 23,805 24,725 25,710 26,685 27,640 28,610 29,570 30,515 31,460 32,425 33,415 34,420 35,420 36,420 37,410 

6.4%4.4%3.5%3.5%

2,680 2,292 2,351 2,123 2,315 3,039 3,2642,7693,0703,3203,5653,7903,9954,1904,3804,5504,7054,8504,9855,1155,2505,3855,5205,6555,7905,925

1.7%7.8%3.9%3.9%

4,470 4,491 4,297 4,4035,5065,689 5,8956,7987,1457,4407,7358,0108,2658,5108,7508,9709,1759,3709,5509,7359,920

10,11010,30010,49010,68010,870

6.0%4.0%2.5%2.5%

7,150 6,783 6,648 6,526 7,821 8,728 9,159 9,567 

10,21510,760 11,300 11,800 12,260 12,700 13,130 13,520 13,880 14,220 14,535 14,850 15,170 15,495 15,820 16,145 16,470 16,795 

4.6%5.2%3.0%3.0%

20,40720,42121,93620,55022,80023,62723,04723,22824,10024,86025,61526,36027,10027,78028,45529,12529,73530,34030,94031,48532,02532,55533,08033,60034,11534,625

2.1%3.1%2.3%2.2%

NANANANANA

170 

1,273 6,066 6,965 7,865 8,765 9,765 

10,76511,66512,16512,66513,06513,46513,76514,06514,36514,66514,96515,26515,56515,865

12.2%

5.1%5.0%

6,700 6,633 6,478 6,088 5,939 6,4596,2775,9406,0156,0606,0856,0956,0906,0806,0706,0606,0506,0406,0306,0206,0106,0056,0005,9955,9905,985

-1.3%

0.6%

-0.1%

0.0%

* Source: 2000-2007, FAA General Aviation and Air Taxi Activity (and Avionics) Surveys.Note: An active aircraft is one that has a current registration and was flown at least one hour during the calendar year. 
87

TABLE 28

ACTIVE GENERAL AVIATION AND AIR TAXI HOURS FLOWN

(In Thousands)

CALENDARYEAR

FIXED WING

ROTORCRAFT

EXPERIMENTAL SPORT AIRCRAFT OTHER

G

A

PISTON TURBINE

SINGLE

ENGINE

MULTIENGINE TOTAL TURBO PROP TURBO JET TOTAL PISTON TURBINE TOTAL

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

18,089 16,549 16,325 16,680 15,363 13,73913,97613,57113,53013,28913,15012,97312,86612,80412,79112,86712,93513,07113,21013,35313,49813,61713,80014,04414,31214,643

-3.6%-1.4%

0.3%0.5%

3,400 2,644 2,566 2,317 2,763 2,6772,5502,6862,5912,5292,4792,3942,3232,2622,2032,1612,1262,1112,0802,0462,0111,9601,9391,9621,9852,019

-3.3%-2.2%-2.1%-1.5%

21,489 19,193 18,891 18,997 18,126 16,416 16,525 16,257 16,121 15,818 15,629 15,367 15,189 15,067 14,994 15,028 15,061 15,182 15,290 15,400 15,509 15,577 15,739 16,006 16,297 16,663 

-3.5%-1.5%-0.1%

0.2%

1,986 1,773 1,850 1,922 2,161 2,1602,1622,6612,5942,6142,6402,6882,7372,7752,8142,8492,8772,9112,9563,0043,0413,0683,1103,1533,1903,219

3.4%0.9%1.4%1.3%

2,7552,654 2,745 2,704 3,719 3,7674,0773,9384,0434,4274,7455,0405,3335,6515,9736,2836,5906,8987,2047,5127,8358,1688,5138,8609,2149,569

4.9%8.3%5.1%5.2%

4,741 4,427 4,595 4,626 5,880 5,927 6,240 6,599 6,637 7,041 7,384 7,728 8,070 8,426 8,786 9,132 9,468 9,809 

10,160 10,515 10,875 11,237 11,623 12,013 12,404 12,788 

4.3%5.5%3.9%3.9%

530 474 453 448 514 678918704703730785837885930975

1,0151,0521,0871,1211,1531,1861,2201,2531,2871,3211,355

3.6%5.7%4.2%3.9%

1,661 1,478 1,422 1,687 2,020 2,4382,5282,5412,4842,5092,6152,7142,8082,8982,9883,0703,1483,2233,2933,3663,4383,5133,5883,6633,7393,815

5.2%2.6%2.8%2.6%

2,191 1,952 1,875 2,135 2,534 3,116 3,446 3,245 3,187 3,238 3,400 3,552 3,692 3,828 3,962 4,085 4,201 4,311 4,414 4,518 4,624 4,732 4,841 4,950 5,060 5,170 

4.8%3.3%3.1%2.9%

1,307 1,157 1,345 1,293 1,322 1,3401,2181,2751,3161,3511,3851,4321,4801,5241,5691,6141,6561,6981,7411,7801,8201,8591,8981,9381,9772,017

0.1%2.6%2.8%2.5%

NANANANANA

9 

66 

260305351399453509563599636669704734765796829863898934971

14.4%

7.2%7.1%

374 287 333 264 249 271 211 215 219 222 224 225 226 227 227 228 229 230 231 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 

-6.5%

1.1%0.4%0.5%

* Source: 2000-2007, FAA General Aviation and Air Taxi Surveys.1 Estimates have been revised to reflect changes in edit and estimation procedures, and may not be comparable to estimates prior to 1995.Note: An active aircraft is one that has a current registration and was flown at least one hour during the previous calendar year.
88

TABLE 29

ACTIVE PILOTS BY TYPE OF CERTIFICATE

AS OFDEC. 31 STUDENTS RECREA- TIONAL SPORT PILOT PRIVATE COMMERCIAL AIRLINE TRANSPORT ROTOR- CRAFT ONLY GLIDER ONLY TOTAL PILOTS 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

93,06494,42085,99187,29687,91087,21384,86684,33980,98976,30072,05072,80073,55074,30075,25076,20077,20078,20079,20080,20081,25082,30083,35084,40085,50086,600

-1.7%-5.7%

1.2%0.4%

340 316 317 310 291 278 239239252250250250250250250250250250250250250250250250250250

-3.7%-0.4%

0.0%0.0%

NANANANANA

134 939

2,0312,6236,5008,500

10,20011,00011,55012,15012,80013,45014,15014,90015,65016,45017,20018,00018,85019,70020,600

80.0%

6.8%

12.9%

251,561243,823 245,230 241,045 235,994 228,619 219,233211,096222,596226,650224,400218,050212,500210,250209,850210,250211,100212,200213,450214,750216,100217,500218,950220,400221,900223,400

-1.5%

0.4%

-0.4%

0.0%

121,858 120,502 125,920 123,990 122,592 120,614 117,610115,127124,746125,400124,450125,050123,100120,000117,300119,050120,800122,550124,450126,350128,350130,400132,450134,500136,600138,700

0.3%

-0.1%

0.3%0.6%

141,596 144,702 144,708 143,504 142,160 141,992 141,935143,953146,838147,650148,400149,100149,700150,300150,850151,350151,800152,250152,700153,150153,600154,050154,450154,850155,250155,650

0.5%0.5%0.3%0.3%

7,775 7,727 7,770 7,916 8,586 9,518 

10,69012,29014,64715,39015,68015,81015,87015,89015,90015,91015,94016,05016,20016,39016,60016,82017,06017,31017,57017,830

8.2%3.5%0.6%1.2%

9,387 8,473 

21,826 2/

20,950 21,100 21,369 21,59721,274 21,055 21,830 21,980 22,080 22,120 22,150 22,170 22,190 22,220 22,240 22,260 22,290 22,310 22,350 22,390 22,440 22,480 22,520 

10.6%

2.2%0.1%0.4%

625,581 619,963 609,936 625,011 618,633 609,737 597,109 590,349 613,746 619,970 615,710 613,340 608,090 604,690 603,720 608,000 612,760 617,890 623,410 629,030 634,910 640,870 646,900 653,000 659,250 665,550 

-0.2%

0.2%0.3%0.5%

* Source: FAA U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics.

1 Instrument rated pilots should not be added to other categories in deriving total.2 In March 2001, the FAA Registry changed the definition of this pilot category. It added approximately 13,000 to this pilot category.Note: An active pilot is a person with a pilot certificate and a valid medical certificate.
89

TABLE 30

GENERAL AVIATION AIRCRAFT FUEL CONSUMPTION

(In Millions of Gallons)

CALENDARYEAR

FIXED WING

ROTORCRAFT EXPERIMENTAL/

OTHER

SPORT

TOTA

PISTON TURBINE

SINGLE

ENGINE

MULTIENGINE TURBO- PROP TURBO- JET PISTON TURBINE AVGAS 

Historical200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

200.8180.4177.9181.8167.5218.4208.2203.2203.6201.0199.9198.2194.6191.7189.6188.8188.9189.9191.0192.1193.2193.9195.5198.0200.8204.4

0.2%

-0.9%-0.3%

0.0%

108.4

76.474.266.780.1

111.9104.8110.9107.6105.5103.9100.9

96.993.490.187.585.684.682.981.279.477.075.876.376.877.7

-0.1%-1.7%-2.7%-1.9%

176.3149.1152.3154.5167.0196.1190.1233.9228.0229.7229.7234.0238.2239.1242.4245.4245.4248.3252.1253.6256.7259.1260.0263.5266.7269.1

3.3%0.4%1.1%1.0%

736.7726.7745.5729.0

1,004.91,181.31,303.91,234.31,248.11,353.01,435.51,509.61,581.31,658.91,735.81,807.91,877.21,945.32,011.22,076.22,143.82,212.82,283.12,352.32,421.92,490.0

6.8%7.2%4.1%4.1%

8.47.26.96.87.9

13.316.712.812.813.214.215.215.916.817.618.218.919.520.020.621.221.822.222.823.424.1

5.4%5.5%4.0%3.8%

59.042.640.548.859.071.774.875.273.573.876.379.081.483.886.388.791.092.894.896.698.7

100.8102.5104.6106.8108.9

2.8%1.9%2.6%2.3%

15.215.317.817.117.517.721.622.623.323.824.425.225.926.727.528.128.929.630.230.931.632.332.833.534.134.8

5.5%2.3%2.6%2.4%

NANANANANA

0.00.31.41.61.92.12.42.62.93.13.23.43.63.73.84.04.14.24.44.64.8

13.3%

6.7%6.6%

332.8279.2276.7272.4272.9361.3351.6350.9348.9345.4344.5341.8336.0331.5327.8325.9325.6327.2327.8328.5329.3329.0330.5335.0339.7345.8

0.6%

-0.6%-0.5%-0.1%

Source: FAA APO Estimates.

Note: Detail may not add to total because of independent rounding.
90

TABLE 31

TOTAL COMBINED AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AT AIRPORTS

WITH FAA AND CONTRACT TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICE

(In Thousands)

FISCALYEAR

AIR

CARRIER

AIR TAXI/ 

COMMUTER

GENERAL AVIATION MILITARY

TOTA

ITINERANT LOCAL TOTAL ITINERANT LOCAL TOTAL 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

15,158.714,762.813,209.712,823.912,934.013,532.313,256.313,611.513,762.013,069.713,500.414,052.814,663.915,256.815,770.916,169.416,510.516,841.517,196.617,545.817,889.718,254.818,616.418,983.619,357.119,746.4

-1.2%-1.0%

2.9%2.1%

10,760.610,882.111,029.411,426.012,243.912,551.711,967.611,666.710,977.710,270.810,342.210,508.210,712.410,952.011,132.811,282.011,419.111,554.811,694.411,837.911,985.112,134.212,294.612,462.712,630.912,799.1

0.3%

-2.9%

1.5%0.9%

22,844.121,433.321,450.520,231.320,007.219,315.118,741.118,577.217,367.916,160.116,163.216,311.716,541.116,785.017,059.017,326.117,599.117,864.118,136.918,416.918,699.118,962.619,263.319,616.620,007.320,442.6

-3.4%-3.5%

1.5%1.0%

17,034.416,193.716,172.815,292.714,960.414,845.914,378.914,557.313,921.413,184.913,198.113,212.213,232.613,249.513,273.213,310.713,338.413,409.913,469.813,531.713,593.313,636.313,723.813,854.113,999.414,178.5

-2.5%-2.6%

0.3%0.1%

39,878.537,627.037,623.235,524.034,967.634,161.033,120.033,134.531,289.429,345.029,361.329,523.929,773.630,034.530,332.130,636.830,937.531,274.031,606.631,948.632,292.432,598.932,987.133,470.734,006.734,621.1

-3.0%-3.1%

1.0%0.6%

1,422.01,493.01,552.51,528.71,498.81,414.81,358.41,313.81,274.21,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.51,266.5

-1.4%-0.3%

0.0%0.0%

1,448.21,437.61,511.01,480.51,480.51,449.11,417.41,405.71,217.71,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.31,204.3

-2.1%-0.5%

0.0%

-0.1%

2,870.22,930.63,063.53,009.22,979.32,863.92,775.82,719.52,491.92,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.82,470.8

-1.8%-0.4%

0.0%0.0%

68,66866,20264,92562,78363,12463,10861,11961,13258,52055,15655,67456,55557,62058,71459,70660,55961,33762,14162,96863,80364,63865,45866,36867,38768,46569,637

-2.0%-2.5%

1.5%1.0%

* Source: FAA Air Traffic Activity.
91

TABLE 32

TOTAL TRACON OPERATIONS

(In Thousands)

FISCALYEAR

AIR

CARRIER

AIR TAXI/

COMMUTER

GENERAL

AVIATION MILITARY 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

16,395.015,894.014,243.013,650.213,680.514,161.814,015.614,417.214,451.013,742.414,120.814,597.915,131.615,653.816,107.116,455.916,757.917,058.917,391.017,722.518,052.818,407.218,760.319,120.619,488.219,872.3

-1.6%-1.1%

2.5%1.9%

11,197.711,326.511,540.011,814.512,599.012,803.112,081.411,725.811,055.410,411.510,169.210,088.010,116.510,211.310,354.510,526.310,706.410,890.311,071.711,258.811,446.111,633.611,826.912,022.712,224.812,429.8

-0.2%-4.1%

1.2%0.7%

20,799.219,274.919,212.518,094.218,006.817,394.117,010.716,751.715,697.215,167.615,075.715,102.415,206.515,362.615,545.815,769.915,992.216,246.516,508.216,776.817,047.617,300.417,588.817,927.818,302.718,720.3

-3.5%-2.0%

1.2%1.0%

3,466.93,465.73,523.43,202.33,021.52,801.02,670.42,499.42,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.22,387.2

-4.6%

0.0%0.0%0.0%

* Source: FAA Air Traffic Activity.
92

TABLE 33

IFR AIRCRAFT HANDLED

AT FAA AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTERS

(In Thousands)

FISCALYEAR

IFR AIRCRAFT HANDLED

AIR

CARRIER

AIR TAXI/

COMMUTER

GENERAL

AVIATION MILITARY 

Historical*200020012002200320042005200620072008EForecast20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025Avg Annual Growth:2000-082008-10 2010-202008-25

24,987.124,865.522,819.322,743.423,856.925,004.524,394.425,006.223,838.522,478.523,388.024,426.825,547.726,651.927,640.428,451.029,177.429,896.930,666.031,436.332,209.133,027.433,850.634,693.535,556.936,457.2

-0.6%-0.9%

3.3%2.5%

8,100.98,303.38,809.49,149.09,981.5

10,053.9

9,436.79,652.9

10,172.3

9,239.09,172.39,213.39,327.89,486.79,678.39,889.0

10,105.710,325.110,543.010,765.010,987.311,210.111,436.911,665.711,898.912,134.3

2.9%

-5.0%

1.8%1.0%

8,744.48,024.68,180.87,999.88,350.48,367.78,197.08,294.37,662.77,242.87,311.07,447.77,610.47,759.87,868.37,990.38,112.48,247.38,385.78,527.58,671.18,808.98,960.89,132.69,318.99,522.2

-1.6%-2.3%

1.7%1.3%

4,192.54,038.63,920.73,855.34,027.74,052.04,149.73,803.33,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.23,648.2

-1.7%

0.0%0.0%0.0%

* Source: FAA Air Traffic Activity.