EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Vol.One.

Vol.Two.

AirFare Data

BTS 05-12

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Contact: Dave Smallen

Tel: 202-366-5568



BTS Releases 3rd-Quarter 2011 Air Fare Data;


3rd-Quarter Domestic Air Fares Rose 6.2% from 3rd Quarter 2010



Average domestic air fares rose to $361 in the third quarter of 2011, up 6.2 percent from the average fare of $340 in the third quarter of 2010 (Table 1), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. Cincinnati had the highest average fare, $488, while Atlantic City, NJ, had the lowest, $167 (Table 3).

Third-quarter fares decreased 2.4 percent from the second quarter (Table 2). Quarter-to-quarter changes may be affected by seasonal factors.


BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. Itinerary fares consist of round-trip fares unless the customer does not purchase a return trip. In that case, the one-way fare is included. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares” or a few abnormally high reported fares.

Not inflation-adjusted, the $361 third-quarter 2011 average fares were up 0.5 percent from the previous third-quarter high of $359 in 2008. Unadjusted third-quarter fares dropped to $307 in 2009 during the recession. Third-quarter 2011 fares were up 17.5 percent from the 2009 low, not adjusted for inflation (Table 6).

Third-quarter 2011 fares, not adjusted for inflation, were the second highest of any quarter, slightly below the high of $370 in the second quarter of 2011. Adjusted for inflation, third-quarter 2011 fares in 1995 dollars were $244, down 18.0 percent from the third quarter of 2000, which, at $297, was the inflation-adjusted high for any third quarter since 1995 (Table 1). BTS air fare records begin in 1995.

See BTS AirFARE Data Page.

Passenger airlines collected 71.4 percent of their total revenue from passenger fares during the third quarter of 2011, the most recent quarter available (Table 1A).

Air fares in the third quarter of 2011 increased 7.1 percent from the third quarter of 2000, not adjusted for inflation, compared to an overall increase in consumer prices of 30.6 percent during that period. In the 16 years from 1995, the first year of BTS air fare records, air fares rose 25.5 percent compared to a 48.1 percent inflation rate (Table 6). The average inflation-adjusted third-quarter 2011 fare in 1995 dollars was $244 compared to $288 in 1995 and $297 in 2000 (Table 1).

See tables below for the following information about the top 100 airports based on 2010 originating passengers.

Table 3: Five highest and five lowest average fares in the third quarter: Cincinnati had the highest average fare, $488, while Atlantic City had the lowest, $167. For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 8 on the BTS website.

Table 4: Five largest increases and five largest decreases from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2011: Bellingham, WA, had the largest increase, 18.0 percent, and Charleston, SC, had the largest decrease, 10.1 percent. For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 9 on the BTS website.

Table 5: Five largest increases and five largest decreases from the third quarter of 2000 to the third quarter of 2011: Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena, CA, had the largest increase, 57.6 percent, and White Plains, NY, had the largest decrease, 43.1 percent. For the Top 100 Airports, see Table 10 on the BTS website.


See the BTS Air Fare web page for average fares for the top 100 airports.



Rankings can also be found on the BTS website. Fares for Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico airports, which are not included in rankings, are available on the web page. Average fares for all airports are also available. Since average fares are based on the Origin and Destination Survey 10 percent ticket sample, averages for airports with smaller samples may be less reliable.

Fourth-quarter 2011 average fare data will be released on April 25.

Risks are primarily socio-economic

Environmental. . .less so.

Air Travel Consumer Report

Jan.2012.

Asiana and LOT violate price advertising rules

DOT 10-12
Monday, January 23, 2012
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

DOT Fines Two Airlines for Violating Price Advertising Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined Asiana Airlines, a carrier based in the Republic of Korea, and LOT Polish Airlines for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. Asiana was fined $70,000 and LOT $60,000.

“Airline passengers have rights, including the right to know the full fare they will have to pay when they book a flight,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We adopted our airline price advertising rules to protect consumers from deceptive ads and will continue to take enforcement action when necessary.”

DOT rules require any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges. The only exception currently allowed is government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges, which may be stated separately from the advertised fare but must be clearly disclosed in the advertisement so that passengers can easily determine the full price they must pay. Internet fare listings may disclose these separate taxes and fees through a prominent link next to the fare stating that government taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the viewer directly to information where the type and amount of taxes and fees are displayed. All carrier-imposed fees, such as fuel surcharges, must be included in the advertised fare. The rules apply to both U.S. and foreign carriers as well as ticket agents.

For a period of time during the fall of 2011, both carriers displayed ads on their websites that violated DOT’s rules. Asiana’s ads showed fares for various routes, with a link indicating that taxes, fees, and other restrictions could apply. The link took consumers to a page where taxes and fees were described in fine print at the bottom of the page, which was on a different screen. One of these additional fees was a fuel surcharge imposed by the carrier.

LOT displayed ads that did not provide any information about additional taxes and fees. Consumers who clicked on the fare were taken to a page containing sample routes and fares, as well as fine print explaining the type of taxes and fees on a separate screen reached only after scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers and ticket agents will be required to include all government taxes and fees in every advertised fare beginning Jan. 26, 2012.

The consent orders are available on the Internet at :
Regulations.
use docket # DOT-OST-2012-0002.

Alitalia Violates Baggage Liability Rule

DOT 11-12
Monday, January 23, 2012
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570


DOT Fines Alitalia for Violating International Baggage Liability Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty of $80,000 against Alitalia, an airline based in Italy, for violating an international treaty by limiting reimbursement to passengers whose baggage was lost or delayed on Alitalia flights to and from the United States.

“Consumers have a right to be treated fairly when they fly, and are entitled to appropriate compensation when their bags are lost or delayed,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will continue to take enforcement action when airline baggage rules are violated.”

Following complaints filed with DOT by consumers, the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office investigated Alitalia’s baggage policy. It found that for a number of flights to and from the United States, Alitalia was limiting reimbursements to between $50 and $75 per day of delay regardless of the amount of the expenses claimed by passengers or whether they provided original receipts documenting their expenses.

Alitalia’s policy violated a provision of the Montreal Convention, an international agreement setting rules for international air travel. The agreement says that carriers may not limit their liability for loss or damage to checked baggage to less than approximately $1,700 per person, an amount that fluctuates based on currency conversion rates.

The consent order is available on the Internet at
Regulations., use
docket # DOT-OST 2012-0002.

Need a Plumber for the 76

Got a leak.

Domestic Use of Drones

Isn't this the way Terminator II starts.? When exactly is it that SkyNet becomes Self-Aware? Ok. I checked the script. It's August 29, 2029. We've still got time.


Here's more.

GAO Report

Risk Assessment.

GPS needs warrant

From CourtHouseNews.

If it is used by gobmn't; if not, Private Eyes can still collect all your info.


The case of the errant spouse.

NewAviationConsumerProtections

New Passenger Protections from the Dept of Transportation.

The E trade baby's new crib toy

Video Conferencing.

There was a time, not so long ago, that I was convinced that video conferencing would turn the airline industry into a charter only operation. Turns out . . .I was mistaken. . .as ususal. Now if only . . .


Well, there it is.


NYTimesCoverage.

Air Worthiness Directives- Boeing Aircraft

Read.

FAA Mobile App

For the Road Warrior.

Walk

Like an Egyptian.


Arab Spring, Tunisia and Turkey.

Nuc'ler

Power Plants.

So what's that got to do with aviation? Fuel supplies.. . that can't be transported across known geological faults and which everyone seems to be upset about. The new pipeline, ya know?

Pipeline. . Legal Issues.

AMR intends to keep 21 aircraft

737-800s.

Global Economic Outlook

From the World Bank.

Lithium Batteries Overheat

On Recharging.

Federal Register

The Boeing Jets.

India-US Relations

Triangulate This.

BTS Data

BTS Releases November Airline Fuel Cost and Consumption Data


The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), today updated its Airline Fuel Cost and Consumption web page with preliminary November data.

Cost per gallon for U.S. airlines’ scheduled services:

November 2010 $2.24

October 2011 $2.79

November 2011 $2.84
The page provides scheduled service cost and consumption numbers. Use the “Select a Service” dropdown to see all services or non-scheduled.

The Fuel Cost and Consumption page.

Preliminary fuel cost and consumption numbers are industry summaries only. Airline fuel costs may be affected by hedging. The next monthly web update is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Individual airline numbers are available through September on the BTS website. Individual airline numbers for October and November will be available with the BTS fourth-quarter financial release scheduled for May 10.

Outsmarting your smart phone

from NPR & EPIC.

EPIC v DHS

For Spying on Social Networking, via Cryptome(dot)org.

Now they are trying to throw you off the sent by moving files around and renaming them. . .my characterization of this action, not Cryptome's; via Cryptome(dot)org.

EPIC's Complaint Against the DHS, Dec. 20, 2011, Civ. Action No. 11-02261 (D.D.C.).

McCarthy era-like hounding.

Immigrants from the other border

TransAtlantic.

Lunch

Buzzards circle AMR, here.

And here.

And here.

Good News

Sites Being Tracked By Feds. (via Cryptome.org)

Final Rule

Rest Rules for FlightCrew.

Air Consumer Report

December 2011.

Airline Financials

DOT 02-12



Airline Financial Data for 3rd Quarter 2011



Friday, January 6, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released airline financial data for the third quarter of 2011. The release was scheduled for Dec. 20 but was delayed because of technical processing issues. Operating profit/loss and operating revenue can be found on these tables. Fuel cost and consumption numbers are available on these tables. See the BTS financial databases.for more detailed data.

The data released today is missing reports from two carriers: Continental Airlines and Mesa Airlines. Contact: Dave Smallen (202) 366-5568.

New Rules

Immigrants catch a break.


From the Federal Register, The Rule.


From CourtHouseNews.

Mike Daisy via NPR Weekend

"You . . . are going to need a lot of business cards."


This American Life.


Podcast.

Foxconn.(Apple lists its suppliers)

Anybody got a Nexium?

Sharing drugs at 35K feet.

Immigration & American Jobs

Study.

Air Worthiness Directive for all 737(s)

From the Federal Register.

China says

I don't think so, to carbon tax.

You say you want a revolution. . .

Well, you know. . .we all want to change the world.

TSA Monitoring These Sites

via Cryptome.

Best & Worst

Rep.

Chinese. . . I don't think so

EU Carbon Emissions Tax.

Soldiers

Up Front.

Dot Fines AirTran

DOT 01-12
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

DOT Fines AirTran Airways for Violating Price Advertising Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined AirTran Airways $60,000 for violating federal aviation laws and the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel.

“Consumers have a right to know the full price they will be paying when they buy an airline ticket,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will continue to take enforcement action when our airline price advertising rules are violated.”

DOT rules require any advertising that includes a price for air transportation to state the full price to be paid by the consumer, including all carrier-imposed surcharges. The only exceptions currently allowed are government-imposed taxes and fees that are assessed on a per-passenger basis, such as passenger facility charges, which may be stated separately from the advertised fare but must be clearly disclosed in the advertisement so that passengers can easily determine the full price they must pay. Internet fare listings may disclose these separate taxes and fees through a prominent link next to the fare stating that government taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the viewer directly to information where the type and amount of taxes and fees are displayed.

For a period of time in the fall of 2011, AirTran displayed an advertisement on a number of websites advertising $59 one-way fares. The advertisement noted that additional taxes, fees and exclusions would apply, but with no information on the type or amount of taxes or fees. A consumer clicking on the advertisement was taken to a page on AirTran’s website where a list of routes and prices were displayed. Consumers were not provided details about the taxes and fees until they scrolled to the bottom of the page where the information appeared in fine print.

Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers will be required, among other things, to include all government taxes and fees in every advertised fare beginning Jan. 26, 2012.

The consent order is available on the Internet at

Docket # DOT-OST-2012-0002.