ID :
144246
Wed, 09/29/2010 - 16:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/144246
The shortlink copeid
AIR TRAFFIC GROWTH SLOWS IN AUGUST, SAYS IATA
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The growth in global air traffic slowed in August 2010, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In a statement here Tuesday, IATA said passenger traffic in August was 6.4
per cent higher than a year earlier, against a 9.5 per cent year-on-year
increase in July and freight traffic was 19.6 per cent, down from a 23 per cent
increase in July.
It said the August 2010 data were partially distorted by the comparison to
August 2009, by which time the markets were already expanding rapidly in a
post-recession rebound.
"When adjusted for seasonality, traffic volumes for passenger traffic fell
by one per cent and cargo by 0.8 per cent compared with July.
"The rapid improvements in demand that we saw earler this year are behind
us. The slowdown of demand in August is consistent with our forecast for a
tougher end to 2010 as government-stimulus monies run out without having
generated significant improvements in employment," said IATA director-general
and chief executive officer, Giovanni Bisignani
He said the bounce from re-stocking was over.
"We do not yet see the strong consumer confidence needed to sustain the
expansion with spending," he said.
IATA said the capacity increases in passenger markets were accelerating.
"Since December 2009, air travel volumes have expanded by 4.3 per cent while
capacity has risen by 6 per cent," it said.
Passenger load factors remained high (81.6 per cent), but when adjusted for
seasonal fluctuation this amounted to a drop of 1.5 percentage points compared
with the February 2010 peak, it said.
It said freight capacity was matching demand trends which were stabilising.
"Since December 2009, the freight volume expansion of 9.2 per cent has been
matched by capacity expansion.
"After a rapid improvement throughout 2009, freight load factors have
levelled off at 51.0 per cent," it said.
On US$560 billion in industry revenue, Bisignani said the margins were just
1.6 per cent.
"Having a bigger black number on the bottom line is good. But we must also
be realistic in understanding that the profitability is fragile," he said.
He said the August results were a reminder that as the industry moved into
2011, it was expecting a more challenging revenue environment.
IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93 per cent of scheduled
international air traffic.
-- BERNAMA
In a statement here Tuesday, IATA said passenger traffic in August was 6.4
per cent higher than a year earlier, against a 9.5 per cent year-on-year
increase in July and freight traffic was 19.6 per cent, down from a 23 per cent
increase in July.
It said the August 2010 data were partially distorted by the comparison to
August 2009, by which time the markets were already expanding rapidly in a
post-recession rebound.
"When adjusted for seasonality, traffic volumes for passenger traffic fell
by one per cent and cargo by 0.8 per cent compared with July.
"The rapid improvements in demand that we saw earler this year are behind
us. The slowdown of demand in August is consistent with our forecast for a
tougher end to 2010 as government-stimulus monies run out without having
generated significant improvements in employment," said IATA director-general
and chief executive officer, Giovanni Bisignani
He said the bounce from re-stocking was over.
"We do not yet see the strong consumer confidence needed to sustain the
expansion with spending," he said.
IATA said the capacity increases in passenger markets were accelerating.
"Since December 2009, air travel volumes have expanded by 4.3 per cent while
capacity has risen by 6 per cent," it said.
Passenger load factors remained high (81.6 per cent), but when adjusted for
seasonal fluctuation this amounted to a drop of 1.5 percentage points compared
with the February 2010 peak, it said.
It said freight capacity was matching demand trends which were stabilising.
"Since December 2009, the freight volume expansion of 9.2 per cent has been
matched by capacity expansion.
"After a rapid improvement throughout 2009, freight load factors have
levelled off at 51.0 per cent," it said.
On US$560 billion in industry revenue, Bisignani said the margins were just
1.6 per cent.
"Having a bigger black number on the bottom line is good. But we must also
be realistic in understanding that the profitability is fragile," he said.
He said the August results were a reminder that as the industry moved into
2011, it was expecting a more challenging revenue environment.
IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93 per cent of scheduled
international air traffic.
-- BERNAMA
