Airlines & Routes

Ryanair released that November 2008 traffic grew 11% compared to the previous year and that the load factor for the month was up 1 pt to 79%.

SAS Group’s traffic decreased by 12.9% during November and capacity was down 11.0% vs 2007. Total passenger load factor was down by 1.4 p.u. to 64.5%.

American Airlines reported a November load factor of 76.6%, a decline of 4.6 points versus the same period last year. Traffic decreased 14.5% and capacity decreased 9.3% year over year.

American Eagle reported a November load factor of 67.3% – down 4.8 points compared to the same period last year. Traffic decreased 21.5% year over year as capacity decreased 15.9%.

US Airways Group reported November and year-to-date 2008 traffic results. Mainline traffic was down 6.9% from November 2007, capacity was down 6.1% versus November 2007 and the load factor for the month of November was 77.7%, down 0.7 points versus November 2007.

WestJet announced November traffic results with a record load factor of 76.1% for the month. Traffic increased 14.4% while capacity grew 13.5%.

Southwest Airlines reported that November traffic decreased 8.3% from November 2007, capacity was flat for November 2007 and November 2008 and the load factor for the month was 63.2%, compared to 69.3% for the same period last year.

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, reported that traffic for the month of November decreased 6.6%, while capacity was down 7.1%. The load factor for November was 75.8%, 0.4 pts higher than in November 2007.

Continental Airlines reported a November consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 77.3%, 2.8 points below the November 2007 consolidated load factor, consolidated traffic decreased 10.5% and capacity decreased 7.3% as compared to November 2007.

British Airways will resume flights to Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from March 29, 2009. The airline will fly five times each week from Heathrow Terminal 5 to both Jeddah and Riyadh. Flights to Riyadh will operate on a Boeing 777 and Jeddah flights will be on a Boeing 767. Robert Boyle, British Airways’