Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/244474
•pg_3-12__BMT_pg3-58 1/8/14 6:20 PM Page 9 director of meetings and events for the American Alliance of Museums; Alyssa Kolat, conference manager for the International Association of Fire Chiefs; and James Jessie, senior vice president of sales at Visit Phoenix. The airline carried 1,920,329 passengers in September, an increase of 272,627 passengers (17 percent) compared to September 2012. The total capacity (ASK) increased by 33 percent and the passenger traffic (RPK) increased TRAVEL EXPORTS REACH RECORD HIGH IN AUGUST Travel Exports Growing Five Times Faster Than Other Exports in 2013 Travel exports hit a record monthly high of $15 billion even as the overall trade deficit deteriorated slightly in the latest monthly report. David Huether, senior vice president of research and economics at the U.S. Travel Association, comments on the Commerce Department's announcement of the latest trade figures: "Today's report once again underscores the importance of travel as an export juggernaut for the U.S. economy. While other export growth has slowed significantly in 2013, travel exports continue at a robust pace, which helped the travel industry generate a trade surplus of $4.6 billion in August. Through the first eight months of this year, travel exports increased 8.5 percent compared with last year. By comparison, other U.S. exports of goods and services were up just 1.8 percent during the same timeframe. With travel exports growing five times faster than other exports, the travel industry has accounted for 28 percent – more than a quarter – of overall U.S. export growth so far this year. "This powerful economic force of welcoming international travelers to our shores is one of the primary reasons why the travel industry has added jobs at a faster rate than the rest of the economy during the past three years and has already made up nearly 90 percent of the jobs lost during the recession. We urge policymakers to support critical proposals to boost travel, such as the JOLT Act, which would increase international spending in the United States and create more American jobs." NORWEGIAN REPORTS CONTINUED PASSENGER GROWTH IN SEPTEMBER by 30 percent. The load factor was 78.3 percent, down 1.7 percentage point from the same month last year. Considerable international growth( The traffic figures are influenced by strong capacity growth, new aircraft entering the fleet; the establishing of operational bases outside Scandinavia; the launch of several new routes within Europe and long-haul routes between Scandinavia and the U.S. and Asia. In addition, the flying distance is longer than before. "I am pleased that more and more passengers choose to fly Norwegian. Our load factor remains stable and high, despite strong capacity growth. When entering new markets we are conscious about making our brand known by offering very low fares in order to attract new customers. We know that passengers tend to return once they've experienced our new aircraft and in-flight service," said Norwegian's CEO Bjørn Kjos. The company operated 99.6 percent of its scheduled flights in September, 89.3 percent of which departed on time. Norwegian (NAS) carried more than 1.9 million passengers in September, an increase of 17 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. The company is growing and increasing its capacity by taking delivery of brand new aircraft, establishing new operational bases outside Scandinavia and introducing new routes within Europe and between Scandinavia and the U.S. and Asia. B M & T ••• November/December 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 9