TI News: An information service from Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI)

February 04, 2010

U.S. International Travel Abroad Flat in November 2009 ⁽¹⁾

The U.S. outbound non-stop air market totaled 2.8 million in November 2009, about the same as levels of a year ago. After four straight months of increases in U.S. air travel abroad, November 2009 showed a slight decrease of 0.4 percent. During the first 11 months of 2009, the U.S. outbound air market has decreased four percent compared to the same period in 2008. However, it is up from an eight percent year-to-date decline in June 2009.

U.S. spending in November 2009 by U.S. travelers on foreign carrier passenger fares totaled $2.1 billion, down 26 percent compared to November 2008. During the first 11 months of 2009, spending by U.S. travelers on air and vessel transportation decreased 22 percent to $23.4 billion. Since passenger fare receipts (foreign travelers on U. S. carriers), declined by 14 percent for the year, the balance of trade for passenger fares increased to a $1.6 billion surplus.

Highlights: U.S. Citizen Air Traffic to Overseas Regions, Canada & Mexico

• Overseas markets grew two percent in November but remains down two percent year-to-date.
• Europe declined two percent for the month and decreased four percent year-to-date.
• Asia grew six percent for the month and was down five percent for the year.
• Canada decreased six percent for the month and was down nine percent for the year.
• The Caribbean increased three percent in November but decreased three percent for the year.
• For the month, Mexico was down seven percent compared to November 2008. For the year, air traffic to Mexico decreased 12 percent.
• South America was up one percent for the month and year-to-date.
• Central America was down eight percent for the month and down two percent year-to-date.
• The Middle East was up 24 percent in November and up 43 percent for the year.
• Oceania increased eight percent for the month and was flat for the year.
• Africa increased 10 percent in November and jumped 26 percent for the year.

Background
Manufacturing and Services’ Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) collects, analyzes and disseminates international travel and tourism statistics for the U.S. Travel and Tourism Statistical System. To view the OTTI U.S. departure data tables that provide monthly estimates of U.S. air travel abroad by world region and the rate of change each month and year-to-date, please visit: http://www.tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/m-2009-O-001/index.html.

For more detail information on the U.S. international travel abroad research program, please visit http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/research/programs/i92/index.html

U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI)
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 1003
Washington, D.C. 20230
Phone:(202) 482-0140; Fax: (202) 482-2887
Website: www.tinet.ita.doc.gov
Email: Tinet_info@ita.doc.gov

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⁽¹⁾ Throughout this report, percent changes posted for U.S. air travelers for November 2009 were calculated by comparing data in November 2009 to data in November 2008. Also, percent changes posted for year-to-date 2009 were calculated by comparing data January - November 2009 to data January - November 2008