Air travel fared a feeble 1% growth in 2002

Airlines from all around the world carried some 1.6 billion passengers on international regular flights during 2002 for a 1 percent growth as to the number of fliers transported per every flown mile the year before, according to stats handed over by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

For its part, international cargo transportation soared 2 percent during the course of the year compared to 2001, though it still remains 3 percent below the figures put up back in the year 2000.

The ICAO believes air cargo traffic is usually a good indication of the overall economic picture and last year was no exception. In terms of freight tons per mile carried by air, that ratio was up by 4 percent.

The amount of airborne freight tons around the globe peaked 30 million. In a zone breakdown, air carriers from the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East are leading the way to recovery, whereas European airlines are still hovering below the figures posted in 2001. Air travel companies operating in North America sustained huge traffic losses this past year.

According to ICAO, this industry is closely linked to the economic and political situation, therefore the uncertainty that’s currently affecting these two areas is leading to less demand and a cost increase, especially as far as fuel and safety are concerned.