Global air traffic increases in October
Global passenger traffic demand increased 7.2% year-on-year in October, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In addition to the growth in demand, (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs), capacity grew 6.2% and load factor climbed 0.8 percentage points to 80.8%, which was a record for the month.
October’s performance was a strong bounce-back after the hurricane-related disruptions in September. Domestic and international travel growth largely was in balance.
IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: "As expected, the recent severe weather in the Americas region had only a temporary impact on the healthy travel demand we have seen this year, and we remain on course for another year of above-trend growth."
Asia-Pacific airlines led all regions with traffic growth of 10.3%. European carriers’ October demand climbed 6.2% year-on-year, which was a slowdown compared to the 7.2% year-on-year growth recorded for September.
Middle East carriers saw a 6.9% increase in demand; North American traffic was up 3.7%; Latin American airlines saw an 8.7% increase, while Africa airlines’ traffic was up 7.5%.
Domestic demand climbed 7.2% in October compared to October 2016, while capacity rose 6.6%. India and China continued to lead all markets, with double-digit growth rates.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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