Skip to main content

Bayou Business Download: Air Travel, Car Sales and What They Tell Us About the Economy

Published Feb 04, 2022 by A.J. Mistretta


houston airport plane

In this episode of Bayou Business Download, we're talking about transportation. What do the latest figures on air travel through Houston's two airports and local vehicle sales tell us about our economic recovery?  We're joined for this first discussion of 2022 by Partnership Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski.

In this episode we cover: 

  • Airport traffic's resurgence, with 40 million travelers in the first 11 months of 2021, compared with just 18 million a year earlier. 
  • What's driving the increase in air travel and what's held back a more complete recovery in traffic.
  • Why vehicle sales are a barometer of economic health 
  • How many vehicles sold in 2021 and how that compares with previous years

Bayou Business Download is presented exclusively by: 
 

 

 

Fifth Third Bank

 

 

Visit Website

Related News

Aerospace & Aviation

Avelo Airlines' First Houston Route Takes Flight

6/14/24
[PRESS RELEASE] - Avelo Airlines takes off today for the first time from Houston where the carrier was founded and operates its national Support Center. The airline's first Houston flight will inaugurate nonstop service between H-Town's most convenient airport – William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) – and Southern Connecticut's most convenient airport – Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). Avelo is the only airline offering nonstop service from the city of Houston to the state of Connecticut. Avelo will operate this route twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays, operating Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Low one-way fares start at $98*. Customers can make reservations at AveloAir.com. Avelo was founded in Houston in 2018 and made its public debut in April 2021 with its first flight from Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) to the Bay Area's Sonoma County Airport (STS). With that flight, Avelo became America's first new airline in nearly 15 years. "Today marks a significant milestone as we inaugurate Avelo's first flight from our home city of Houston. This route will also connect our airline's national Support Center (headquarters) with the largest of our six bases. Avelo will be the only airline connecting Houston and Connecticut – which will make getting to the gateway to New England and New York easier, faster and more affordable than ever. The flight will also make traveling to Houston a simpler and smoother experience for Connecticut visitors. And when you consider we'll be flying from Houston's most convenient airport – Hobby – it's easy to appreciate why we are so excited about Avelo's H-Town debut today." - Andrew Levy, Founder and CEO, Avelo Airlines "Houston Airports is proud to celebrate the launch of Avelo Airlines' new nonstop service from Hobby Airport to Connecticut. This exciting partnership offers our passengers even more convenient travel options between Houston and the Northeast. Avelo's commitment to affordability perfectly aligns with our mission of connecting people, businesses, and cultures to Houston. With this new route, Hobby Airport further strengthens its position as Skytrax's Best Regional Airport in North America." - Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation, Houston Airports Avelo Customers traveling between HOU and HVN today will enjoy a gate-side celebration and fanfare, including commemorative boarding passes, local Houston bites, a musician and a water cannon salute upon the flight's arrival. Airline executives will join city and airport officials for the historic occasion. The route's inauguration underscores the strategic significance of both Houston and New Haven within Avelo Airlines' extensive network. Houston, renowned for its dynamic business landscape and vibrant cultural scene, serves as the location for the airline's Support Center (how the airline refers to its headquarters). Around 200 Crewmembers (how the airline refers to its employees) are based in Houston at Greenway Plaza. New Haven boasts the airline's largest operational base. Tweed-New Haven Airport – The New Haven Way to New England and New York HVN is located on Connecticut's scenic coast and is a convenient gateway to all 15 towns that make up Greater New Haven. HVN's adjacency to multiple major highways and commuter railways makes visiting the New England and New York regions easier than ever. The airport is a refreshingly smooth and simple alternative hometown airport experience that will make visiting Southern Connecticut faster, easier and more relaxing than ever. Best known as the home of Yale University, New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and is part of the New York metropolitan area. The coastal city has experienced—and continues to enjoy—a renaissance. Within an easy stroll from the New Haven Green are more than 100 distinctive restaurants, offering something for every palate, and the city abounds with theaters, museums, and shopping destinations to satisfy all interests and tastes. Last year, New Haven joined iconic cities like Auckland, London and Istanbul to make the prestigious New York Times 2023 "52 Places to Go" list. Whether visiting family and friends or just looking for a vacation, there is a wealth of things to explore in The Cultural Capital of Connecticut. America's Most Convenient Airline Since taking flight on April 28, 2021, Avelo has flown more than 4.7 million Customers on over 37,000 flights. Today Avelo serves 53 destinations spanning 24 states and Puerto Rico. Avelo has unlocked a new era of convenience, choice, and competition by flying unserved routes to primarily underserved communities across the country. Every route has at least one small, easy to use airport. This makes every Avelo journey a smooth, easy, and more enjoyable experience than contending with the crowds, congestion, and long walks at larger airports. Avelo is distinguished by its industry-leading reliability. In May, the airline ranked #1 in on-time performance and delivered the lowest flight cancellation rate in the industry – the second straight month Avelo led the industry in both metrics. Additionally, for the first five months of 2024, Avelo climbed to #1 in on-time performance and maintained the second-lowest flight cancellation rate among all U.S. carriers. These results are reported by Anuvu, a leading aviation data services company also utilized by The Wall Street Journal for the publication's annual airline ranking. Avelo Customers can always change or cancel their itineraries with no extra fees. Additionally, families can travel with ease knowing every child 13 and under will be automatically seated with an accompanying adult at no additional cost. Avelo offers advanced seat assignments for sale. One third of its seats are extra leg room seats, ranging from 32 inches to more than 36 inches, offering a more comfortable experience for Customers who value more space. In addition to advance seat assignments, Avelo offers several unbundled travel-enhancing options that give Customers the flexibility to pay only for what they value, including priority boarding, checked bags, carry-on overhead bags, and bringing a pet in the cabin. About Avelo Airlines Avelo Airlines' purpose is to Inspire Travel by saving people time and money. The Houston-based airline offers travelers time and money-saving convenience, everyday low fares, and a refreshingly smooth, caring, and reliable travel experience. Operating a fleet of 16 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, Avelo serves 53 popular destinations across the United States, including its six bases at Los Angeles' Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Southern Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), Orlando International Airport (MCO), the Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region's Wilmington Airport (ILG), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), and the Bay Area's Sonoma County Airport (STS). For more information visit AveloAir.com or the Avelo Newsroom at AveloAir.com/Newsroom. For more information, please contact: Madison Jones Avelo Airlines Madison.jones@aveloair.com Augusto Bernal Houston Airport System Madison.jones@aveloair.com
Read More
Aerospace & Aviation

Hydrogen Fuel Experiment to Take Off at IAH

5/23/24
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has been chosen as one of the five North American locations where Airbus will study the feasibility of creating a hydrogen hub.   The European multinational aerospace corporation is partnering with the Center for Houston’s Future (CHF) and Houston Airport System to examine the viability of equipping airports with the infrastructure to support hydrogen fuel for aircraft. The analysis, expected to conclude in March 2025, will focus on identifying potential opportunities and barriers to hydrogen usage at airports, as well as defining the requirements for an ‘end-to-end' hydrogen supply chain, as Airbus works to achieve its goal of having hydrogen commercial aircraft operational and carrying passengers by 2035.  “Building airplanes which run on clean hydrogen may take some time, but we can begin today by looking at how we can use clean hydrogen in airport operations, such as ground equipment and public transportation so we can be ready for the future,” CHF CEO Brett Perlman said.  The airline industry is increasingly investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks that reduces emissions from air transportation to reach net zero carbon goals.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aviation accounts for 2 percent of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 12 percent of all CO2 emissions from transportation worldwide. This collaborative effort can help accelerate SAF technology and adoption.  “As we continue to expand and modernize our facilities, participating in this sustainability study is crucial,” said Jim Szczesniak, Aviation Director for the City of Houston. “Continuing to build a sustainable airport system will ensure a healthy future for Houston, attract top talent and businesses, and demonstrate our commitment to being a responsible global citizen.”  The Airbus announcement follows the recent creation of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition, a nonprofit made up of key airlines, manufacturers and trade groups to advance the development of low-carbon fuels and decrease emissions in the industry. The organization will also advocate for federal policies that support the creation of a robust domestic market with lower prices and higher supply. Coalition members with a strong Houston presence include United Airlines, the Boeing Company and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas.  Other SAF developments include an agreement between United and Cemvita Corporation, a Houston-based cleantech startup focused on applying synthetic biology to enable a sustainable energy transition, to supply the airline with up to one billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel from their first full-scale SAF plant over the next twenty years.   Learn how the Energy Capital of the World is leading the energy transition to a low-carbon, energy-abundant future. 
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners