Middle East airlines posted the strongest growth rates for January with a 14.3% increase prominent, in accordance with the newest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The increase renowned was nearly evenly matched by a 14.4% growth in capacity, the report found, while load factors for the region stood at 78.6% for the month.
The rate of growth in air travel within the region far exceeded the worldwide average, said the report, which noted that 1 / 4 of the rise in international air travel in January in comparison to October was carried by Middle East airlines.
IATA said Middle East carriers have benefited from network expansion into emerging markets where demand for air travel have been supported by robust economic growth.
Outside the region, the aviation body said the worldwide air travel demand statistics for January show a continuation of the uptick in passenger travel that began on the end of 2012.
Overall, demand was up 2.7% at the previous January that’s slightly prior to the two.2% expansion in capacity. Load factors stood at 77.1%.
“Passenger travel is growing consistent with business confidence levels. Recent months have seen some positive economic signs emerge in both america and China, and the Eurozone crisis seems to have stabilized,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Airlines in emerging markets have taken the best share of the expansion in passenger travel over recent months. On international markets, half the expansion in air travel during the last 4 months was carried by Asia-Pacific airlines.
By contrast, European and North American airlines continue to record the slowest growth rates on international markets. “In contrast to the full international market trend, European airlines have seen no growth in international passenger volumes since October 2012,” IATA said. “Although the height of the Eurozone crisis appears to have subsided, several economies inside the region are facing slow or no economic growth and high unemployment rates.”
The report also warned of different factors that can impede air travel growth around the globe, including high oil prices and potential fallout from US budget cuts. “But inspite of those headwinds—real and potential—we still see underlying support for continued and potentially even strengthened growth,” Tyler said.
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