The number of airborne passengers in the U.S. slid almost 10% in May, yet flight occupancy remained above 70%

New York._ The traffic of U.S. passengers dropped 8.7% in May 2002 compared with the same month in 2001, while airfares also went south by 6.6% in the same period of time, the Air Transportation Association (ATT), whose affiliated airlines engulf over 95% of the country’s total passenger and cargo flights, reportedly said.

The number of domestic flights were down by 7.9%, while international traffic plunged 10.6% in the same month. Occupancy plummeted an average of 10.3%, with 10.8% in domestic flights and 5.8% in international travel.

In May, the occupancy factor scored 72.6%, with 71.4% in domestic routes and 76% in international flights, both figures rendered as “poorly significant increases” compared to May 2001.

David Swierenga, head of the ATT Financial Office, warned traffic recovery in May has been “worse than expected” despite the fact that the number of passengers jacked up dramatically during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

On the other hand, Mr. Swierenga said airfares for domestic flights dipped an average of 9.5% last May, while the price of plane tickets for those traveling overseas also fell by 3.8%.

The average airfare for a 1,000-mile domestic flight slipped to $122.05 in May, while fares for international flights of 4,000 miles slid to $384.17.

Mr. Swierenga also said even though the price tag of domestic flights was just $122.05, taxes and tariffs levied by the U.S. Federal Government pushed up the face value of airfares to $151.20 for nonstop round trips.