https://www.transportation.gov/sites...ber-2017_0.pdf

U.S. and foreign air carriers
transported 226.9 million passengers
between the United States and the rest of the world
for the year-ended December 2017, up 5% from
the same 12 month period a year earlier. U.S. flag
market share decreased to 48% from 49%.
For the 12 months ended December 2017,
available seats into and out of the United
States were 283.1 million, representing a 5%
increase from the preceding 12-month period.
The market share of seats for U.S. flag
carriers declined to 48% from 49%, and U.S.
carriers performed 54% of all departures.
Flights into and out of the United States were
1.7 million for the year-ended December
2017, representing an increase of 3% from the
preceding 12-month period.

U.S. and foreign airlines carried 11.3 million
freight tons to and from the United States
during the 12 months ended December 2017,
representing a 12% increase from the
preceding 12-month period. U.S. flag
carriers share declined to 43% from 44%.

Passenger Traffic
Air passenger traffic between the U.S. and the rest of the world during the month of December 2017
increased 3% from December 2016 to 18,788,975 passengers. U.S. airlines carried 48% of total
passengers traveling to or from international destinations. U.S. and foreign charter passengers accounted
for 0.6% of international travel.
The largest U.S.-international regional gateway was the United States to Europe, where 65.6 million
passengers were transported during the year-ended December 2017. Europe is followed by Central
America with 41.1 million passengers and the Far East with 34.2 million passengers. Combined, this
accounts for 62% of all passenger traffic to and from the United States, the same as for the preceding 12-
month period for the same regions.

Country Trends
The top five U.S.-international country passenger gateways for the year-ended December 2017 were
Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. Of the top 25 country markets, 21
experienced increases in passenger traffic during this period and four experienced a loss in traffic. U.S.
flag share was up in six of the top 25 country markets, unchanged in six countries, and decreased in the
remaining 13 country markets.

Gateway Trends
The top five domestic scheduled passenger gateway airports for the year-ended December 2017 were
New York, NY (JFK), Los Angeles, CA (LAX), Miami, FL (MIA), San Francisco, CA (SFO), and
Chicago, IL (ORD). Load factors were 80% or higher in 26 of the top 40 domestic gateway airports.
During this time period, 33 of the top 40 domestic gateway airports experienced year-over-year passenger
growth, six markets lost traffic, and one market experienced no growth.
The top five foreign scheduled passenger gateways for the year-ended December 2017 were London,
United Kingdom (LHR), Toronto, Canada (YYZ), Cancun, Mexico (CUN), Mexico City, Mexico (MEX),
and Paris, France (CDG). During this period, 32 international gateways recorded a load factor of 80% or
higher and 34 gateways showed positive year-over-year growth. The top 5 U.S.-international gateways
segments were New York (JFK) to London (LHR), Honolulu (HNL) to Tokyo (NRT), Los Angeles
(LAX) to London (LHR), New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG), and New York (LGA) to Toronto (YYZ),
representing 23% of the total top 40 international gateway passengers.

Departures and Seat Capacity
Departures between the U.S. and the rest of the world for the month of December 2017 were up 2%
compared to December 2016, while seats increased 3% over the same period. U.S. airlines provided 48%
of international seats and 54% of departures. Charter service for all airlines accounted for 0.9% of
international seats and 2.9% of international departures.
For the year-ended December 2017, departures increased by 3% to 1.73 million, while seats increased 5%
to 283.1 million over the same period. U.S. airlines provided 48% of the seats, compared to 49% the
previous year. Charter service for all airlines accounted for 1.0% of international seats and 2.7% of
international departures.

World Area Trends
For the year-ended December 2017, seven of the nine world area regions recorded an increase in annual
seat capacity. Africa registered the largest increase in relative seat capacity, growing at 9% in the period.
The U.S.-Europe market is the largest by seat share, with 81.0 million, or 31% of the total seats, and grew
6% over the preceding 12-month period.

Country Trends
The top five U.S.-international country gateways for seat capacity for the year-ended December 2017
were Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. Of the top 25 U.S.-international
countries, six posted negative growth rates, one remained unchanged, and 18 experienced seat count
growth. U.S. flag share was down in 13 of the 25 country markets, unchanged in six and increased in the
remaining six country markets.

Freight Traffic
Air freight between the U.S. and the rest of the world in the month of December 2017 increased 9% from
December 2016 to 994,547 tons. U.S. airlines carried 42% of the total freight to and from international
destinations. Charter service accounted for 14% of international freight traffic.
For the year-ended December 2017, U.S.-world airfreight increased 12% over the preceding 12-month
period to 11.3 million tons. U.S. airlines carried 43% of total freight, down 1% from the preceding 12-
month period.

World Area Trends
Africa experienced the greatest relative increase in nonstop freight shipments to and from the U.S. for the
year-ended December 2017, rising 19% over the preceding 12-month period. With 4.5 million tons
transported during this time period, the Far East is the largest U.S.-international freight gateway,
representing 40% of all U.S.-international freight traffic. Of the nine regions, only South America posted
a year-over-year decline.

Country Trends
The top five U.S.-international country gateways for freight during the year-ended December 2017 were
Japan, China, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Of the top 25 country markets, 20 posted
positive freight growth rates and five country markets declined during this period. Of the five country
markets posting declines, Ecuador and Peru had the highest relative loss rates, down 9% each from the
preceding 12-month period. U.S. flag share was down in 10 of the 25 country markets, unchanged in five
country markets, and increased in the remaining 10 country markets.
remaining six country markets.

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