Traffic Update 
December 2006

 Detailed Results - 1.03MB  

One more time: record-breaking traffic figures for the Houston Airport System in 2006

Another year, another list of record-breaking traffic figures for all three of the Houston Airport System’s airports.

Passengers, air cargo and aircraft operations all registered dramatic year-over-year increases in 2006. Over 51 million passengers were served by George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports last year, marking a year-over-year increase of 6.5 percent – or three-million-plus travelers more.

A significant part of those traveling through Bush Intercontinental were on their way to worldwide destinations, as international passenger traffic increased by more than 7.3 percent year-over-year. Regions such as Central and South America, and Asia/Africa/Australia combined, saw the most dramatic increases in passenger traffic, closing 2006 with respective year-over-year increases of 16 percent and 7.7 percent.

Air cargo also registered a significant increase in traffic figures. More than 367,000 metric tons of air cargo passed through Houston’s airports in 2006 – an increase of 5.4 percent, compared to the same timeframe in 2005.

International air cargo increases made up a large part of this growth. Respective year-over-year increases of 30.5 percent, 20 percent and 14 percent to Central and South America, Asia/Africa/Australia combined, and Europe resulted in a 13.3 percent year-over-year increase in total international air cargo traffic for the Houston Airport System.

Among the top-performing cargo airlines of 2006 were Cargolux (with a year-over-year increase of 62 percent), Air France (+ 61 percent), Saudi Arabian Airlines (+ 49.5 percent), Pakistan International Airlines (+ 32.4 percent), and British Airways (+ 13.5 percent).

In the passenger arena, Air France and Aeromexico were among the carriers with the most significant increases. Each registered respective year-over-year increases of 43 percent and 38 percent.

Ellington Field also closed 2006 with positive figures. Total aircraft operations at the joint-use civil/military airport increased by 21 percent, compared to the same timeframe in 2005.

This year, the dramatic increases are expected to continue as new carriers join the cargo and passenger family at the Houston Airport System. China Airlines kicked-off their all-cargo service to Taipei at the end of last year, followed by Korean Air Cargo in January of 2007.

Atlas Air Cargo has just announced new service to Brazil at the end of February from Bush Intercontinental and Emirates will begin flying three times a week to the United Arab Emirates in December of 2007.

Chinese cargo carrier Jade Cargo International has also just filed with the Department of Transportation for Shenzhen-Houston freighter service.

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The Houston Airport System served more than 51 million passengers in 2006. It is the 4th-largest multi-airport system in the U.S. and the 6th-largest in the world. Bush Intercontinental is the nation’s 9th-busiest airport. According to J.D. Powers & Associates, William P. Hobby Airport is first in customer satisfaction among smaller airports in the United States. HAS annually contributes over $24 billion in positive economic impact to the Greater Houston region. For more information watch Houston Airports Today every Saturday at 9:00 am on KTBU Channel 55 or visit www.fly2houston.com