KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 10): Global air passenger traffic for November last year moderated year-on-year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In a statement yesterday, IATA said total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 6.2% compared to November 2017, a slight deceleration from 6.3% growth in October.

It said capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.8% over the year-ago period, and load factor dipped 0.4 percentage point to 80.0%.

It was only the third time in two years that load factor fell on a year-to-year basis.

IATA director general and CEO Alendre de Juniac said traffic is solid, but there are clear signs that growth is moderating in line with the slowing global economy.

“We still expect 6% demand growth this year. But trade tensions, protective tariffs and Brexit are all uncertainties that overhang the industry,” he said.