ATA Reports February Fall In Airline Revenue

The Air Transport Association today said passenger revenue among U.S. airlines fell 19 percent in February compared with the same period last year, as petering passenger volumes and falling fares propelled revenues to decline for the fourth consecutive month.

ATA said airlines in February witnessed a 12 percent decline in passengers and an 8 percent decline in yield.

J.P. Morgan aviation analyst Jamie Baker in a research note this week said he expects revenue to fall further in March, "largely given the Easter shift, with April trends more closely resembling those of February." Baker noted, "From that point forward, we are modeling for neither recovery nor further deterioration." Baker noted that sustained demand trends, "while undoubtedly weak, are nonetheless tracking in line with our expectations."