Table of Contents
Scope and Themes
-
- What you need to know
- Definition
- Resources used for consumer sections
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Executive Summary
-
- Airline industry still continuing its recovery after 9/11
- Revenue driven by strength of economy; profitability dependent on managing costs and upgrading the ATC system
- U.S. carriers return to profitability; customer service problems rise dramatically
- Southwest outspends all other airlines on media
- Consumers fly, but do not always enjoy it
Market Drivers and Future Trends
-
- Fuel cost increases limit profitability
-
- Figure 1: Airline fuel costs per gallon, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Future trend
- Air traffic control system needs overhaul—flight delays and crowded planes tarnish air travel’s image
-
- Figure 2: Airline on-time performance, 2002-07 (YTD January-August)
-
- Figure 3: Reasons for air traffic delays in percent of total delayed minutes, 2003-07
- Planes are full
-
- Figure 4: Total U.S. passengers emplaned, 2002-07
- Future trend
- GDP growth influences airline revenue
-
- Figure 5: Total U.S. Real GDP and scheduled airline passenger revenue relationship, 1975-2000
-
- Figure 6: Total U.S. GDP and scheduled airline passenger revenue relationship, 2002-07*
- Distribution of income
-
- Figure 7: Per capita disposable personal income, at current and chained 2000 dollars, 2000-06
-
- Figure 8: Distribution of U.S. households, by income, 1999 and 2004
- A la carte travel on the rise
Market Size and Forecast
-
- Market size
-
- Figure 9: Total operating revenue of U.S. passenger, cargo, charter and other airline, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
-
- Figure 10: Total operating profit/loss of U.S. passenger, cargo, charter and other airline, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
- Passenger airlines
-
- Figure 11: Total operating revenue of U.S. passenger airlines, at current and constant prices, 2002-07
-
- Figure 12: Total U.S. passengers emplaned, 2002-07
- Forecast of U.S. passenger, cargo, charter, and other airline operating revenue
-
- Figure 13: Forecast of total operating revenue of U.S. passenger, cargo, charter, and other airlines, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- U.S. passenger airline operating revenue
-
- Figure 14: Forecast of operating revenue of U.S. passenger airlines, at current and constant prices, 2007-12
- Forecast factors
Supply Structure
-
- Key points
- Operating revenue increased by 19.3% during 2004-06
- All major airlines returned to profitability in first half of 2007
- Leading airlines carried 3.6% more passengers in 2006
- Performance benchmarks
- Companies and brands
-
- Figure 15: Passenger operating revenue of U.S. airlines, 2004 and 2006
-
- Figure 16: Operating profit/loss by U.S. carrier, 2004 and 2006 and first-half 2007
- Figure 17: U.S. airlines ranked by number of passengers, 2004 and 2006
- Comparative analysis of major airlines by key performance indicators
- On-time performance by carrier
-
- Figure 18: U.S. leading airlines, ranked by on-time performance, 12-months ending August 2007
- Mishandled baggage complaints by carrier
-
- Figure 19: U.S. leading airlines, ranked by mishandled baggage reports filed by passengers, January-June 2006 & 2007
- Consumer complaints by carrier
-
- Figure 20: U.S. leading airlines, ranked by consumer complaints, January-June 2006 & 2007
Advertising and Promotion
-
- Key points
- Introduction
-
- Figure 21: Television spot, “Saving On Room Service,” March 2007
-
- Figure 22: Television spot, “Sincerely, Billy Doyle,” June 2007
-
- Figure 23: Television spot, “First Glimpse Of Hawaii,” March 2007
-
- Figure 24: Television spot, “Little Bob,” May 2007
-
- Figure 25: Television spot, “Business Travellers/Advantage Awards,” March 2007
- Companies and brands
-
- Figure 26: Media expenditures for leading airlines, 2005-06
- Advertising profiles
- American Airlines
-
- Figure 27: Television spot, “Business Travellers/Advantage Awards,” March 2007
-
- Figure 28: Television spot, “We know why you fly/little girl talks to dad,” March 2007
- AirTran Airways
-
- Figure 29: Television spot, “Employee thinks boss is on conference call,” September 2007
- Continental Airlines
-
- Figure 30: Television spot, “Flight attendants say goodbye,” March 2007
- Delta Airlines
-
- Figure 31: Television spot, “Deserted airport,” May 2007
-
- Figure 32: Television spot, “More flights and entertainment,” May 2007
-
- Figure 33: Television spot, “Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card,” June 2007
- JetBlue
-
- Figure 34: Television spot, “Sincerely, Mark Adleman,” September 2007
- Southwest Airlines
-
- Figure 35: Television spot, “Man loses neighbours' pets,” September 2007
-
- Figure 36: Television spot, “Woman won't stop elevator,” August 2007
-
- Figure 37: Television spot, “Airplane spinning wheel,” September 2007
- United Airlines
The Consumer: Travel Profile
-
- Summary
- Domestic travel is popular
- Most travelers make their own travel arrangements
- Profile of domestic travelers
-
- Figure 38: Profile of domestic travelers, May 2006–June 2007
- Profile of air travelers
-
- Figure 39: Profile of domestic air travelers, May 2006–June 2007
- Personal or vacation trips by plane
-
- Figure 40: Frequency of vacation/personal travel, by gender, May 2006-June 2007
-
- Figure 41: Frequency of personal/vacation travel, by age, May 2006–June 2007
-
- Figure 42: Frequency of personal/vacation travel, by household income, May 2006–June 2007
- Business travel by plane
-
- Figure 43: Frequency of business travel, by gender, May 2006–June 2007
-
- Figure 44: Frequency of business travel, by age, May 2006–June 2007
-
- Figure 45: Frequency of business travel, by household income, May 2006–June 2007
- Airlines flown in the past year
-
- Figure 46: Airlines flown in the past year, by age, October 2007
- Type of traveler
-
- Figure 47: Type of traveler, by gender, October 2007
-
- Figure 48: Type of traveler, by age, October 2007
- Flight arrangements
-
- Figure 49: Who makes flight arrangments, by gender, October 2007
-
- Figure 50: Who makes flight arrangements, by age, October 2007
-
- Figure 51: Who makes flight arrangements, by race/ethnicity, October 2007
- Business travel arrangements
-
- Figure 52: Who makes business flight arrangments, by gender, October 2007
The Consumer: Foreign Travelers
-
- Summary
- One in five adults took a foreign trip by plane in the past three years
- Most foreign trips are taken for vacation purposes
- U.S.-based carriers are most popular for foreign travel
- Profile of foreign travelers
-
- Figure 53: Profile of foreign travelers, May 2006-June 2007
- Profile of foreign air travelers
-
- Figure 54: Profile of foreign air travelers, May 2006-June 2007
- Reason for foreign trips
-
- Figure 55: Reason for taking a foreign trip, by gender, May 2006–June 2007
-
- Figure 56: Reason for taking a foreign trip, by age, May 2006–June 2007
-
- Figure 57: Reason for taking a foreign trip, by race/ethnicity, May 2006–June 2007
- Number of foreign trips
-
- Figure 58: Number of foreign trips taken in past 3 years, by gender, May 2006-June 2007
-
- Figure 59: Number of foreign trips taken in past 3 years, by age, May 2006–June 2007
- Airline preferences for foreign travel
-
- Figure 60: Airline preferences for foreign travel, by household income, May 2006–June 2007
-
- Figure 61: Airline preferences for foreign travel, by race/ethnicity, May 2006–June 2007
The Consumer: Air Travel Experiences and Attitudes
-
- Summary
- Consumers have mixed feelings about air travel
- Most air travelers are price-sensitive
- Experiences with air travel
-
- Figure 62: Experiences with air travel, by gender, October 2007
-
- Figure 63: Experiences with air travel, by household income, October 2007
- Attitudes toward air travel
-
- Figure 64: Attitudes toward air travel, by gender, October 2007
-
- Figure 65: Attitudes toward air travel, by age, October 2007
-
- Figure 66: Attitudes toward air travel, by household income, October 2007
- Fear of flying
-
- Figure 67: Fear of flying, demographic profile, October 2007
- Willingness to alter air travel plans
-
- Figure 68: Rescheduling reservations, by age, October 2007
-
- Figure 69: Rescheduling reservations, by household income, October 2007
Appendix: Trade Associations
Appendix: Simmons Cohorts
-
-
- Figure 70: Married couples cohorts
- Figure 71: Single women cohorts
- Figure 72: Single men cohorts
-
Back to top