Researching destinations and crafting your page…
The OD40 Passenger Survey stands out for its expanded 40% monthly ticket sampling, capturing fares, itineraries, and routes from all U.S. scheduled carriers since July 1, 2025. This upgrade from the old 10% quarterly OD10 delivers granular insights into air travel demand and pricing unavailable elsewhere. Analysts gain unprecedented access to issuing carrier data, connecting points, and passenger counts for domestic and international flights.
Top pursuits include downloading DB1C datasets from BTS TranStats for route mapping and fare benchmarking. Explore the eSubmit portal for compliance samples and submit test files to OAI for feedback. Attend virtual BTS webinars or review Federal Register updates for operational nuances.
Fall months align with data releases like July-September 2025's first quarter. Expect clean, structured CSV files with fields for origins, destinations, and fares. Prepare by studying instructions manuals and ensuring software handles large samples.
BTS and OAI foster an open data culture, with carriers and researchers collaborating via support emails. Insiders track how expanded reporting reveals low-cost carrier shifts and network efficiencies. Engage the aviation community through forums for real-world application stories.
Plan analysis around monthly releases starting fall 2025, focusing on DB1C for itinerary details. Book time post-September 15 submission deadlines when carriers file July data. Download sample files from esubmit.rita.dot.gov/OD-US-40.aspx early to test formats.
Prepare spreadsheets for fare and route parsing before diving into TranStats releases. Bring laptop with Excel or Python for quick visualizations of passenger flows. Note first segment usage rules: pre-July 2025 tickets exclude from OD40.