IATA Reports February Increase in International Air Travel

The International Air Traffic Association is reporting that the upturn in international air travel continued in February, reflecting the increasingly positive economic environment. Premium travel rose 5.9 percent in February, while economy travel was up 6.9 percent. Total international passenger numbers increased by 6.8 percent in February, less than the 9.5 percent rise in RPKs due to increasing average distances flown.

The level of economy travel is close to recovering early 2008 levels, but premium travel is still 16 percent down on previous highs. However, it now appears that the earlier decline in premium travel was cyclical and that premium travel is now rising back in line with world trade.

Consumer confidence has been disappointingly weak but growth in economy seats is increasingly being driven by business travel. Premium revenues rose an estimated 9.4 percent in February as rising average fares added to the growth in premium passenger numbers.

The upturn remains very different by geographical market, reflecting the different pace of economic recovery. The strongest markets are within the Far East, South America, the Middle East and across the South Atlantic. The weakest market areas remain within Europe, across the North Atlantic, Pacific and in Africa.