(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)The air traffic growth in the region reflects the robust pick up in business activity in non-oil sectors.
Dubai — Middle East carriers posted 14 per cent jump in passenger traffic in May — the strongest surge recorded in the world — far outstripping the global growth of 6.9 per cent the International Air Transport Association or Iata said on Thursday.
The air traffic growth in the region reflects the robust pick up in business activity in non-oil sectors. “The result also could reflect some additional travel prior to the arrival of the month-long Ramadan period that began in June. Middle Eastern carries boosted capacity by 19.7 per cent as their load factor fell 3.7 percentage points to 74.6 per cent” the report said.
Iata said total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 6.9 per cent globally which was an improvement on the April year-over-year increase of 5.7 per cent. May capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.5 per cent and load factor rose 0.3 percentage points to 79.3 per cent.
However Iata Director-General Tony Tyler warned that the financial crisis in Greece and recent weakness in regional trade activity in Asia-Pacific have the potential to dampen performance in these markets in the coming months.
“May results confirm that demand for connectivity remains robust but there are possible storm clouds forming on the horizon. The financial crisis in Greece and recent weakness in regional trade activity in Asia-Pacific have the potential to dampen performance in these markets in the coming months” said Tyler.
May international passenger demand rose 7.1 per cent compared to May 2014 with airlines in all regions except Africa recording growth. Total capacity climbed 6.7 per cent pushing load factor up 0.3 percentage points to 78.4 per cent.
Asia-Pacific airlines’ May traffic jumped 9.4 per cent compared to the year-ago period while European carriers saw demand increase by 5.9 per cent. “Growth has been robust despite Europe’s economic woes; however a further worsening of the Greek financial crisis could bring this positive trend under significant pressure.”
North American airlines’ traffic rose two per cent compared to May a year ago which was an improvement on the April rise of 0.7 per cent. “Expectations for better economic performance in Q2 should support demand for air travel but the strengthening dollar likely will continue to place downward pressure on international leisure travel to the US” Iata said.
Latin American airlines experienced a 7.4 per cent rise in traffic while African airlines’ traffic fell 3.9 per cent in May year-to-year most likely owing to adverse economic developments in parts of the continent.
Worldwide domestic travel demand rose 6.6 per cent in May compared with the strongest growth occurring in India and China. Domestic capacity was up 6.2 per cent and load factor improved 0.3 percentage points to 81 per cent.
India’s domestic demand accelerated 18.2 per cent in May owing to market stimulation by local carriers as well as notable improvements in economic growth. China domestic traffic climbed 12.7 per cent year-over-year.
“As we enter the busy summer travel season in the northern hemisphere many millions of people will rely on aviation to explore the world or re-connect with friends and family. The mobility that is taken for granted by these travellers is the result of the efforts of 2.5 million air transport professionals working in careful cooperation to ensure safe journeys” said Tyler.
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