BTS Adjusts Some Release Dates, Citing Appropriations Lapses and Workforce Reductions
The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is adjusting its release schedule under 5 CFR Part 1321, saying multiple lapses in appropriations and workforce reductions at other federal agencies have delayed some regular data input deliveries, pushing some statistical products later than planned. Affected releases include April 2026 transportation sector unemployment, average air fares for Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, and June 2026 domestic and international airline traffic data.
Impact and considerations
Changes to official aviation and transportation statistics release timing affect the availability of benchmark data used for capacity, fare and cost analysis, so teams relying on these figures for quarterly decisions may need to adjust their analysis cadence.
Key points
- BTS is adjusting its release schedule under 5 CFR Part 1321, the 'Fundamental Responsibilities of Recognized Statistical Agencies and Units' (Trust Regulation).
- BTS says multiple lapses in appropriations and workforce reductions at other federal agencies have delayed some regular data input deliveries.
- 'U.S. Transportation Sector Unemployment, April 2026' will be released on 8 May 2026; the original 1 May entry was an error.
- 'Average Air Fares, 4th Quarter 2025' will be released on 24 April 2026, earlier than the originally scheduled 15 May, because data processing finished sooner.
- 'Average Air Fares, 1st Quarter 2026' will be released on 24 June 2026, earlier than the originally scheduled 15 July, because data processing finished sooner.
- 'Airline Traffic Data, June 2026 Domestic and International' will be released on 14 September 2026, postponed from 11 September to honour the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 28 Aug 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 12 Sept 2026, 00:20
- Last updated
- 28 Aug 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- US BTS Statistical Releases：Schedule Shift for Some BTS Content | Bureau of Transportation StatisticsLockU.S. Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link is external)(link sends email)(link is external)(link is external) (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 28 Aug 2026, 08:00