IATA Reports Air Traffic Growth Slows to 4.1 Percent in September

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global traffic results for September showing a continued slowdown in the rate of traffic growth. Demand for passenger traffic was 4.1 percent above the level of September 2011. For air cargo, demand growth was even weaker at 0.6 percent.

IATA said the growth trend in air travel started to flatten in the second quarter, with no growth in the passenger market between April and August. The year-on-year comparisons are now also starting to show slower rates of growth.

In September, passenger travel increased 4.1 percent compared to the same month a year ago, down from the 5.3 percent year-over-year growth rate in August and well below the 6 percent average growth rate seen throughout the first half of the year. Capacity increased by 3.1 percent over the year-ago period, and the load factor stood at 80 percent, up 0.7 percent points compared to September 2011.

September international passenger demand rose 4.9 percent compared to the year-ago period, with all regions reporting traffic growth. Only Asia-Pacific carriers experienced a decline compared to August. Capacity rose 3.1 percent for the month, pushing the load factor up 1.3 percent points to 80.9 percent compared to a year ago.

European airlines saw 5.4 percent growth on international services compared to September 2011, the strongest performance among the major regions despite recession conditions in Europe.

With capacity up 3.5 percent, the load factor reached 83.9 percent, up 1.5 percent points on September 2011, and the second highest among the regions. Asia-Pacific was one of the weakest regions, as demand rose just 1.7 percent year-on-year. Compared to August, the region recorded a 0.3 percent decline -- the only region to do so.

Tight capacity management, however, meant that the load factor rose 1 percent point versus last year to 77.2 percent. North American airlines’ international traffic climbed 2.1 percent for the month, while capacity declined 0.2 percent, with the load factor reaching 84.6 percent, the highest for any region and a 2 percent point rise over September 2011.

Middle East carriers experienced by far the strongest traffic growth, with demand up 13.3 percent year-on-year. This was down compared to the 17 percent growth recorded in August but the growth comparison for August was inflated by seasonal impacts, with Ramadan dampening traffic growth during August 2011.

September capacity rose 11.3 percent and the load factor strengthened to 78.7 percent. Latin American airlines posted growth of 7.5 percent, second highest among the regions. Capacity climbed 6.2 percent -- also the second highest -- and the load factor rose 0.9 percentage points to 78.2 percent.

Compared to August, traffic rose 2.7 percent, the strongest month-on-month performance for any region. African airlines’ traffic climbed 4.7 percent year-on-year, on a 3 percent rise in capacity. The load factor was 71.6 percent, the lowest of any region but a 1.2 percent point rise over last year.

For the U.S. domestic market, traffic slipped 1.5 percent in September while capacity rose by 0.3 percent. The load factor dipped to 80.5 percent from 81.9 percent last year, but still the highest among domestic markets.

http://www.travelpulse.com/iata-reports-air-traffic-growth-slows-to-41-percent-in-september.html