The FAA says air travel is up, and will keep going that way

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Air travel in the United States increased for the fourth consecutive year in 1997, and the future promises more of the same, according to a forecast by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Spurred by "an extremely robust U.S. economy" last year, the number of domestic air trips increased 3.4 percent, the FAA said. The international air traffic picture was even rosier, with trips by U.S. airlines up 4.2 percent.

"Last year was a very good year for aviation. One of the best," Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater said in a written statement. "And I am pleased to announce that next year will be even better."

The FAA predicted air travel inside the country will increase 3.5 percent a year for the next 12 years, and international air travel will grow 5.8 percent, he said.

"That is good solid growth," Slater said.

The report was released at the beginning of the FAA's 23rd annual Commercial Aviation Forecast Conference in Washington, D.C.

While air passenger totals have risen noticeably, FAA officials said the agency's workload had not seen a corresponding increase, partly because airlines are using larger airplanes and filling their seats more efficiently. That, in turn, has helped the airline industry turn a profit of $7.9 billion -- $1.9 billion more than in 1996, the report says.

FAA officials said they were "exceptionally optimistic" about the future of air travel, but warned that several factors could stifle the growth. Those factors, such as a change in economic conditions or a major stock market correction, would hurt all travel sectors, and not just aviation.

Economic problems in Asia, meanwhile, would undoubtedly reduce the growth in air travel there, FAA officials said. But airlines may begin to see an increase in the number of Americans traveling to Asia to take advantage of lower prices there, the officials said.

Also in the report:

• The number of air travelers over the next 20 years is expected to nearly double, from 109.8 million this year to 204.4 million in 2009.
• Commuter airline trips are forecast to increase 7.8 percent in 1998, and should show a 5.5 percent annual growth over the 12-year forecast period.
• General aviation hours flown are expected to increase from 26.5 million in 1997 to 31.3 million in 2009, an average annual growth rate of 2.4 percent.
• Number of Atlantic route passengers -- currently the biggest group to and from the United States, is expected to increase by over 4 percent annually over the next 12 years, but the number of passengers on Latin American routes is expected to supplant the Atlantic passengers in the top spot.

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