U.S. airlines carried 46.3 million scheduled service passengers in January 2022*, 33.2% more than in January 2021 and 34.0% fewer than in pre-pandemic January 2020, according to data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by 23 airlines that carry more than 90% of passengers. Domestic passengers (41.2 million) made up 89% of total enplanements, and international passengers (5.1 million) accounted for 11% of total. Omicron concerns caused the steepest US drop from the most recent pre-pandemic corresponding month since April 2021, BTS said today. This of course was long before Putin’s war against democracy in Ukraine and economic sanctions were imposed, with more likely.