SkyWest reports 60.8 percent jump in traffic

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Regional airline operator Skywest Inc. reported Monday that traffic rose 60.8 percent in May compared with a year ago due to the November acquisition of ExpressJet.

Paying passengers flew 2.53 billion miles last month, up from 1.58 billion in May 2010.

Capacity rose 57.4 percent to 3.11 billion available seat miles. That's a measure of one seat flying one mile. Airlines increase capacity by adding flights, flying longer distances or using bigger planes.

With traffic rising faster than capacity, the average flight was 81.4 percent full last month, compared with 79.7 percent a year earlier.

Through the first five months of the year, traffic was up 52.1 percent, capacity increased 54.4 percent, and average occupancy fell to 76.9 percent from 78.1 percent last year.

The company also owns SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines. It provides regional connecting service for bigger airlines under the United Express, Delta Connection and Continental Express banners and operates flights for AirTran Airways.

SkyWest shares rose 29 cents, or 2 percent, to $14.90 in afternoon trading.