INTERNATIONAL. International passenger traffic continued to outstrip pre-September 11 2001 levels this July, but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that high oil prices will sink some airlines into losses this year.
IATA CEO and Director General Giovanni Bisignani said: “International passenger and cargo traffic growth continued to exceed expectations through July, however the extraordinarily high level of oil prices point to yet another year of significant airline losses.”
IATA INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC GROWTH: PERCENTAGE CHANGE JULY 2004 AND JANUARY-JULY 2004 vs SAME MONTHS IN 2003 AND 2000 | ||||
| REGION | JULY 2004 | JULY 2004 | JAN-JULY 2004 | JAN-JULY 2004 |
v JULY 2003 | v JULY 2000 | v JAN-JULY 2003 | v JAN-JULY 2000 | |
| AFRICA | +12.4 | +13.1 | +12.3 | +16.3 |
| ASIA PACIFIC | +27.7 | +11.9 | +29.4 | +12.2 |
| EUROPE | +11.5 | +1.1 | +12.6 | +2.1 |
| MIDDLE EAST | +21.8 | +47.7 | +33.5 | +47.8 |
| NORTH AMERICA | +16.2 | +2.6 | +18.7 | +4.1 |
| SOUTH AMERICA | +13.0 | +12.1 | +12.1 | +10.4 |
| TOTAL | +18.0 | +7.4 | +20.1 | +8.2 |
| *International passenger traffic measured in RPKs (Revenue Passenger Kilometres); Source: IATA; IATA represents over 270 airlines comprising 95% of international scheduled traffic | ||||
For every dollar added to the average price of a barrel of Brent oil, US$1 billion is added to the industry’s costs. IATA noted that the industry is “using capacity wisely with passenger load factors rising to +78.4%”.
Asia made a strong rebound from the SARS-devastated months in 2003, growing +29.4% over January to July this year compared to the same period last year. Even when compared to January to July 2000, the growth was +12.2%.
Traffic increase was also particularly strong for the Middle East, with +47.8% more travelling between January to July this year compared to the same period in 2000.
For the month of July alone, international traffic growth worldwide was +18% over July 2003 and +7.4% over July 2000.
MORE STORIES ON INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC
IATA says passenger traffic improvement is “testimony to the resilience of air transport” – 29/06/04
IATA warns of chaos in US airports – 21/04/04
IATA forecasts +14% Asia Pacific growth – 23/02/04
Middle East leads travel recovery as IATA predicts solid growth – 29/02/04
