Monthly update: aviation

The Greater Houston Partnership has issued the following press release: 

The Houston Airport System (HAS) handled 3.8 million passengers in September ’21, up from 1.7 million in September ’20. This marked the seventh consecutive month with passenger volume exceeding 3.0 million.

While passenger traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels, demand picked up in May, June and July before slipping in late August. The surge of positive cases for the Delta and other COVID-19 variants contributed to the decrease in both leisure and business travel. In September ’21, business travel nationwide was 42.0 percent of the September ’19 level. Major airlines are predicting a rebound in international travel beginning in November, when the U.S. is expected to ease travel bans for select countries. 

HAS handled 38.3 million passengers in the 12 months ending September ’21, a 15.0 percent increase from the 33.3 million handled over the same period in ’20.

• The 12-month international passenger volume totaled 6.1 million, up 1.3 percent from 6.0 million in the preceding 12 months. 
• Domestic volume totaled 32.2 million, an 18.0 percent increase from 27.3 million.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global trade group representing most of the world’s major airlines and cargo carriers, expects North American airlines to return to profitability in ’22.  

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research