Air passenger traffic up 6.4pc in Jan

[flee 5]

INTERNATIONAL air passenger traffic grew 6.4 per cent in January compared with a year earlier, with Asia, Latin America and the Middle East lifting demand.

 

Cargo demand also grew 28.3 per cent in January compared with the corresponding month in 2009, and was up 3 per cent from December, as businesses moved to restock inventories, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a statement yesterday.

 

"We are starting to see some encouraging signs in demand, albeit, with large differences among the regions," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA director-general.

 

A recovery in passenger traffic was notable among Asian-Pacific carriers, which posted 6.5 per cent growth year-on-year.

Compared with the lowest point reached in 2009, demand for these carriers has risen 31 per cent.

 

In the Middle East, demand soared 23.6 per cent in January compared with January 2009, while in Latin America growth was also a robust 11 per cent.

 

Carriers in North America and Europe recorded a more muted recovery with passenger traffic demand up just 2.1 per cent and 3.1 per cent respectively. - Bernama

[Kenneth T 0]

Good indications for the airlines industry.....