ID :
86839
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 14:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/86839
The shortlink copeid
IATA: AIR TRAFFIC REMAINS FRAGILE
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- International air traffic for September remained fragile, improving marginally by only 0.3 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Demand for international cargo was 5.4 per cent and below September 2008's
levels, the association said in a statement thursday.
It said load factors for passenger and cargo returned to pre-crisis
levels of 77.1 per cent and 50.8 per cent, respectively.
IATA said the apparent year-on-year improvement in demand is misleading due
to comparisons with an exceptionally weak September 2008, when traffic fell
sharply by 2.9 per cent for passengers and 7.7 per cent for cargo.
"It is far too early to call this a recovery. The worst may be over in
terms of the fall in demand, but yields continue to be a disaster and costs are
rising," IATA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Bisignani
said.
He said the airline industry remained firmly in the red amidst a fragile
business environment.
"Airlines continue to carefully manage capacity. Seasonally adjusted
passenger capacity has remained unchanged throughout the year while cargo
capacity has edged up only slighlty on the last two months.
"Rising costs are a concern. As airlines adjust capacity to match demand,
aircraft are flying fewer hours. This is raising non-fuel unit costs," he
explained.
At the same time, he said oil prices has risen to above US$75 a barrel,
considerably higher than the US$43 a barrel level at the beginning of the year.
-- BERNAMA
Demand for international cargo was 5.4 per cent and below September 2008's
levels, the association said in a statement thursday.
It said load factors for passenger and cargo returned to pre-crisis
levels of 77.1 per cent and 50.8 per cent, respectively.
IATA said the apparent year-on-year improvement in demand is misleading due
to comparisons with an exceptionally weak September 2008, when traffic fell
sharply by 2.9 per cent for passengers and 7.7 per cent for cargo.
"It is far too early to call this a recovery. The worst may be over in
terms of the fall in demand, but yields continue to be a disaster and costs are
rising," IATA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Bisignani
said.
He said the airline industry remained firmly in the red amidst a fragile
business environment.
"Airlines continue to carefully manage capacity. Seasonally adjusted
passenger capacity has remained unchanged throughout the year while cargo
capacity has edged up only slighlty on the last two months.
"Rising costs are a concern. As airlines adjust capacity to match demand,
aircraft are flying fewer hours. This is raising non-fuel unit costs," he
explained.
At the same time, he said oil prices has risen to above US$75 a barrel,
considerably higher than the US$43 a barrel level at the beginning of the year.
-- BERNAMA
