U.S. International Air Travel Abroad Flat in February 2010

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the U.S. outbound non-stop air passenger market totaled 2.5 million in February 2010, flat compared to February 2009. The top outbound markets were Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Asia.

Except for Asia, which grew nine percent, all these markets were down in departures along with Central and South America. The Middle East and Oceania experienced the strongest growth in February 2010.

In the first two months of 2010, the outbound air market increased two percent when compared to the same period in 2009, reaching 5.3 million. From July 2009, U.S. air travel abroad has registered month-over-month increases in seven of eight months.

In the first two months of 2010, positive growth occurred in five of the eight overseas regions, with Oceania, the Middle East and Africa posting double-digit increases. Outbound travel to Canada was up one percent but down three percent to Mexico.

U.S. spending in February 2010 by U.S. travelers on foreign carrier passenger fares totaled $2.2 billion, down six percent compared to February 2009. For the month, the balance of trade for passenger fares was a $45 million surplus.