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August of 2001 U.S. air travel was already in decline as a sluggish economy had dampened passenger demand. Then the events of September 11, 2001, like none before in aviation history, dramatically decreased air traffic activity in the weeks that followed. The sharp post-9/11 decline and the reasons for it were obvious and generally well understood. But what about long-term structural changes to patterns in National Airspace System (NAS) traffic flows? What were the post-9/11 changes and to what extent did the NAS return to pre-9/11 operation levels in the following six months? Employing a variety of data sources, we found a 15% drop in air carrier airport operations (arrivals and departures) due to 9/11 through February 2002. We also found a 4% drop in air taxi operations, a 7% drop in general aviation operations, and a 9% drop in total operations. Air Route Traffic Control Center operations dropped 6% due to a 14% drop in air carrier operations. These reduction numbers have been discounted for both seasonal variations in traffic as well as the softening economy in 2001 prior to 9/11. Three initial observed responses in scheduled airport operations were elimination of the last bank, fewer operations throughout the day, and removal or shifting of banks throughout the day. Where the last bank was eliminated, March 2002 data indicated these were returning. Arrival delays initially fell to 30% of October 2000 levels and remained below half of the previous year's rates through February 2002. There was also a significant reduction in both airborne and taxi times due to fewer flights and less airspace congestion. This study serves as a snapshot of the effects of 9/11 on U.S. aviation six months afterwards.

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