Passenger traffic gains momentum

AIR TRAFFIC   AIR FREIGHT   ECONOMIC

Asia Pacific — Passenger traffic demand rose in the month of September while freight demand saw a fall, according to results released by The International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Comparing the results with September 2010, passenger traffic for the month this year showed a 5.6% increment while air freight saw a 2.7% drop in the same period.

For international passenger markets, carriers in Asia Pacific experienced a 4.3% increase for demand in international passenger markets with the additional 6.3% in capacity.

This has been a drop for the international markets despite domestic growth improving in China and India.

India had the highest increment of 18.4% for the domestic passenger market, despite a slight difference to its 20.1% capacity increase.

China, however, saw 9.7% passenger increment as compared to the 8.1% added capacity, while Japan's domestic market demand was 14.5% lower than last year.

With Asia Pacific being the largest player in international and domestic air freight, it experienced the greatest impact at a 6.3% drop compared to the same period last year.

The overall results came as a "pleasant surprise" for IATA as the industry regulatory body expected a weakening in passenger service.
 
"We are still expecting a general weakening in passenger traffic as we head towards the year-end," Tony Tyler, IATA's director general and CEO said.

Tyler also believed the economy was too unstable for the increase of aviation taxes to US$36 billion.

 "Governments should protect the 33 million jobs and $3.5 trillion in economic activity supported by aviation with a sound policy framework-not by suffocating the industry with taxes." Tyler added.

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