Global Air Travel Demand Picks Up In August

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Global air travel passenger traffic for August showed a pick-up in demand, with total revenue passenger kilometres 5.9 per cent higher over the same period last year, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

IATA said load factor was high at 83.9 per cent, which was 0.3 percentage point rise over August 2013.

Its director-general/chief executive officer, Tony Tyler, said August was a good month right across the industry with all regions reported an expansion in demand for air travel. "We should, however, keep an eye on potential downside risks.

"European travel, for example, continues to show robust growth with its 6.1 per cent year-to-date expansion in demand, reflecting a solid step up from the 3.8 per cent growth recorded in 2013. "However, it remains a question how long the robust trend in passenger travel can continue in light of the continent's increasingly worrying economic outlook," Tyler said.

IATA said Asia-Pacific airlines saw their traffic increased 5.8 per cent in August over the same month last year while capacity rose seven per cent and load factor declined 0.9 percentage point to 81 per cent.

The association said the Chinese economy had been stabilising, supported by the government's fiscal stimulus and regional trade activity, which encouraged business travel and rebounded fully.

On the Ebola crisis, Tyler said, the airline industry was taking its guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and public health authorities to keep flying safe for passengers and crew.

"Travellers should be reassured. WHO has clearly said that the risk of Ebola transmission on board an aircraft is low. Moreover, WHO is not advising any restrictions on travel," he said.
-bernama.