The End of the Staycation? International Travel is Up

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the U.S. outbound non-stop air passenger market totaled 3.3 million in March 2010, a 6% increase from the year before. Top outbound markets were found in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Asia. Air travel was up to all international markets except Mexico, which was flat compared to March 2009. But double-digit increases were reported by the Caribbean, Asia, Canada, Middle East, Oceania and Africa markets.

In the first three months of 2010, the outbound air market increased three percent when compared to the same period in 2009, reaching 8.6 million. From July 2009, U.S. air travel abroad has registered month-over-month increases in eight of nine months. In the first three 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 five percent but down two percent to Mexico.

What do all of those stats mean to you and me? Well for one thing, it means that Americans are feeling a bit more stable with their bank accounts, enough even to jump on a plane for their next global roam. No more forced staycations!