Airlines & Routes

American Airlines reported a December load factor of 79.2%, an increase of 0.4 point versus the same period last year. Traffic decreased 8.2% and capacity decreased 8.6% year over year.

AirTran Airways reported that December traffic increased 2.3% while the load factor climbed 7.1% pts to 79.8%. Capacity declined 6.9% in December 2008.

Continental Airlines reported a December consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.9%, 1.2 points above the December 2007 consolidated load factor. Consolidated traffic declined 6.7%, while capacity declined 8.1%.

Pinnacle Airlines reported that traffic in November 2008 increased 4.2%, while capacity improved 4.7% compared to the same period last year. The load factor for the month was reported at 76.7%, down 0.4 pts compared to the previous year.

Iberia reported that capacity in November 2008 declined 7.7%, while traffic decreased by 10.6% and the load factor dropped 2.5 points to 77.1% compared to the same period last year.

United Airlines and EGYPTAIR have signed an agreement to offer codeshare flights, which would expand the international destinations and enhance the frequent flyer benefits offered to customers of both carriers. Beginning in summer 2009, United will place its code on EGYPTAIR flights linking New York Kennedy and London Heathrow with Cairo.

Air France-KLM reported that due to the Air France strike from 14 to 17 November 2008 traffic declined by 0.8% in line with capacity (-0.7%). The load factor was virtually stable at 78.3% (-0.1 pt). The group carried 5.6 million passengers (-5.2%).

Starting on 19 January 2009, Air France will be expanding services to Switzerland by offering a new destination, Bern, with 2 daily flights from Monday to Friday and 1 flight on Saturday and Sunday. These flights will leave from Paris-Orly and will be operated by Airlinair in ATR42, equipped with 48 seats.

BA released that in November 2008 passenger capacity was 3.1% below November 2007, traffic fell by 5.9% and the load factor decreased 2.2 points versus last year, to 74.4%. Traffic comprised a 10.8% decrease in premium traffic and a 4.8% fall in non-premium traffic.

easyJet reported that November traffic increased 3.4% compared to November 2007 and that the load factor increased 3.1 pts, to 83.9%.