KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 8): Global air passenger traffic results for July showed an acceleration in demand growth over the previous five months, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In a statement yesterday, IATA said total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 5.9%, compared to the same month last year, with all regions reporting growth.
It said monthly capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.0%, and load factor was 83.7%--just 0.1 percentage point below the record July high achieved in 2015.
IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said July saw demand strengthen, after a softening in June.
“Demand was stimulated by lower fares which, in turn, were supported by lower oil prices. And near record high load factors demonstrate that people want to travel.
“But, there are some important sub-plots to the narrative of strong demand. Long-haul travel to Europe, for example, suffered in the aftermath of a spate of terrorist attacks. And the mature domestic markets are seeing demand growth stall while Brazil and Russia contract,” said de Juniac.