Global growth sparks aviation optimism

The number of airline passengers travelling in February increased 6.8% over the same month in 2005, raising hopes of a better than expected year for the industry.

The year-to-date rise remains 6.4% – in line with projections of 6.5% in 2006 – but, significantly, February is the slowest month for international traffic.

But IATA director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani warned there was no time for complacency.

“February has brought both good news and solid growth,” he said. “As industry prospects improve, staying focused on efficiency and cost reduction remains at the top of the industry’s recovery agenda.”

The Middle East showed the fastest growth of 15.3%, followed by Japan with 7.3% and Europe 6.4%. But North America was sluggish, with growth of 3.6%, well below last year’s increase.