Mass migration
as a travel business
VOYAGE DATABASE, 1900-1914: Key Findings
1. Capacity Utilization:
As with 21st century airlines, capacity utilization was a significant factor determining the profitability of early 20th century North Atlantic passenger shipping companies, because their costs were nearly all fixed (did not adjust up and down with changes in revenues), but the volume of their migrant traffic fluctuated widely (more so than have passenger volumes of 21st century airlines). "On average, steamship companies managed to fill only about 40% of their passenger berths in the second and third class:" [Keeling, "Capacity," p. 226]. Capacity utiltization was highest in the 2nd class (55% on average), because it was used by both migrants and tourists. For instance, in spring, capacity utilization of 1st class flows (mostly US tourists) peaked eastward, in 3rd class (mostly European migrants to America) it peaked westward, but in 2nd class capacity utilization was higher than in either first or second in both directions. The high capacity utilization in 2nd class also explains why the percentage of berths provided in 2nd class rose from about 7% in 1890 to 13% in 1914. [See also Keeling, Business of Transatlantic, pp. 52, 229, 230]
2. Ship funnels : go here
For other key findings, see book, especially tables and graphs.