October passenger demand up 5.8pc - IATA

BTN News
Wednesday, 07 December 2016

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says global passenger traffic results for October show demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 5.8 per cent compared to the same month last year. Capacity grew 6.3 per cent and load factor slid 0.4 percentage points to 80.1% per cent.


October’s performance was a slow-down on the 7.1 per cent year-on-year growth rate recorded in September but still was broadly in line with 10-year averages. Domestic and international travel growth largely was in balance.


"Passenger demand growth in October was consistent with long-term trends but represented a deterioration compared to September. While the negative traffic impact from terror attacks and political instability in parts of the world has receded, the long downward trend in yield—which helped to stimulate travel--has leveled off. Furthermore, the recent OPEC agreement to restrict oil production suggests fuel prices have ended their slide," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and ceo.



International passenger markets

October international passenger demand rose 5.9 per cent compared to October 2015. Airlines in all regions recorded growth. Total capacity rose faster, up 6.6 per cent, causing load factor to slide 0.6 percentage points to 78.6 per cent.


•    Asia-Pacific airlines’ traffic rose seven per cent in October compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 7.1 per cent and load factor dipped 0.1 percentage point to 76.9 per cent. The strong upward trend in seasonally-adjusted traffic has slowed in recent months, although it is too soon to determine whether this is an actual weakening or just a brief pause. On the other hand the Asia-to-Europe market, which is highly sensitive to shock events, is continuing to recover.


•    European carriers saw October demand climb 5.7 per cent over October 2015. Capacity increased 6.2 per cent and load factor slipped 0.4 percentage points to 83.2 per cent. International demand for European carriers appears to be returning to normal after the disruption caused by terrorism and political instability earlier this year.

•    Middle East carriers experienced a seven per cent rise in demand in October, the slowest pace for the region in 18 months, although perhaps the timing of regional celebrations could have affected the results. Capacity increased 10 per cent, however, with the result that load factor dropped 2.0 percentage points to 70.1 per cent, its lowest October level since 2006.

•    North American airlines’ traffic climbed 2.4 per cent in October compared to the year-ago period. While this was the lowest among the regions, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, passenger volumes have still risen at an annualised rate of around fve per cent since March. Capacity rose 4.9 per cent and load factor dropped 1.9 percentage points to 80.1 per cent.

•    Latin American airlines had a 7.1 per cent increase in traffic in October, supported by robust demand for international traffic within the region. Capacity climbed at a much slower rate of 2.1 per cent, causing load factor to surge 4 percentage points to 84.3 per cent, highest among the regions.

•    African airlines’ traffic growth slowed to 5.8 per cent year-on-year in October, from 9.1 per cent in September.
Economic conditions in parts of the continent remain challenging. Capacity rose 4.3 per cent, and load factor strengthened to 68.8 per cent, up one percentage point.

Domestic passenger markets

Domestic demand climbed 5.6 per cent in October compared to October 2015, which was matched by a similar increase in capacity.
 There was continued wide variation in individual country results, with India and China enjoying double-digit growth rates while other markets experienced much slower growth and Brazil remained in decline.
Note: the seven domestic passenger markets for which broken-down data are available account for 30 per cent of global total RPKs and approximately 82 per cent of total domestic RPKs.        

•    India’s domestic market soared 22.7 per cent year-on-year in October, supported by significant growth in real consumer spending and increases in the number of airport pairs served.

•    China’s traffic jump of 14.1 per cent in October was attributable to similar factors — although flight frequencies actually have fallen year-to-year.

October passenger demand up 5.8pc - IATA

BTN News
Wednesday, 07 December 2016

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says global passenger traffic results for October show demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 5.8 per cent compared to the same month last year. Capacity grew 6.3 per cent and load factor slid 0.4 percentage points to 80.1% per cent.


October’s performance was a slow-down on the 7.1 per cent year-on-year growth rate recorded in September but still was broadly in line with 10-year averages. Domestic and international travel growth largely was in balance.


"Passenger demand growth in October was consistent with long-term trends but represented a deterioration compared to September. While the negative traffic impact from terror attacks and political instability in parts of the world has receded, the long downward trend in yield—which helped to stimulate travel--has leveled off. Furthermore, the recent OPEC agreement to restrict oil production suggests fuel prices have ended their slide," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and ceo.



International passenger markets

October international passenger demand rose 5.9 per cent compared to October 2015. Airlines in all regions recorded growth. Total capacity rose faster, up 6.6 per cent, causing load factor to slide 0.6 percentage points to 78.6 per cent.


•    Asia-Pacific airlines’ traffic rose seven per cent in October compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 7.1 per cent and load factor dipped 0.1 percentage point to 76.9 per cent. The strong upward trend in seasonally-adjusted traffic has slowed in recent months, although it is too soon to determine whether this is an actual weakening or just a brief pause. On the other hand the Asia-to-Europe market, which is highly sensitive to shock events, is continuing to recover.


•    European carriers saw October demand climb 5.7 per cent over October 2015. Capacity increased 6.2 per cent and load factor slipped 0.4 percentage points to 83.2 per cent. International demand for European carriers appears to be returning to normal after the disruption caused by terrorism and political instability earlier this year.

•    Middle East carriers experienced a seven per cent rise in demand in October, the slowest pace for the region in 18 months, although perhaps the timing of regional celebrations could have affected the results. Capacity increased 10 per cent, however, with the result that load factor dropped 2.0 percentage points to 70.1 per cent, its lowest October level since 2006.

•    North American airlines’ traffic climbed 2.4 per cent in October compared to the year-ago period. While this was the lowest among the regions, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, passenger volumes have still risen at an annualised rate of around fve per cent since March. Capacity rose 4.9 per cent and load factor dropped 1.9 percentage points to 80.1 per cent.

•    Latin American airlines had a 7.1 per cent increase in traffic in October, supported by robust demand for international traffic within the region. Capacity climbed at a much slower rate of 2.1 per cent, causing load factor to surge 4 percentage points to 84.3 per cent, highest among the regions.

•    African airlines’ traffic growth slowed to 5.8 per cent year-on-year in October, from 9.1 per cent in September.
Economic conditions in parts of the continent remain challenging. Capacity rose 4.3 per cent, and load factor strengthened to 68.8 per cent, up one percentage point.

Domestic passenger markets

Domestic demand climbed 5.6 per cent in October compared to October 2015, which was matched by a similar increase in capacity.
 There was continued wide variation in individual country results, with India and China enjoying double-digit growth rates while other markets experienced much slower growth and Brazil remained in decline.
Note: the seven domestic passenger markets for which broken-down data are available account for 30 per cent of global total RPKs and approximately 82 per cent of total domestic RPKs.        

•    India’s domestic market soared 22.7 per cent year-on-year in October, supported by significant growth in real consumer spending and increases in the number of airport pairs served.

•    China’s traffic jump of 14.1 per cent in October was attributable to similar factors — although flight frequencies actually have fallen year-to-year.