World Air Traffic on the Rise

Traffic of air passengers around the world soared 18.7 percent during the first eight months of 2004, compared to the same period of time last year, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) informed this week.

In a region-by-region breakdown stretching from January through August this year, the number of passengers that flew to and from the Middle East climbed 30.6 percent, followed by 27.3 percent in the Asia-Pacific Rim, 17.4 percent in North America, 11.7 percent in Europe, 11.5 percent in South America, and 11.2 percent in Africa.

In all, these figures combine for an encouraging 8.4 percent increase when stacked up against the numbers posted by the aviation industry worldwide back in the year 2000.