Air passenger numbers up on back of improving business conditions: IATA

GENEVA - Growth in international air passenger numbers improved in August with a rise of 4.5% compared to a year ago, up on the July result of 2.6%, according to IATA. Premium and economy passenger numbers rose at the same rate, 4.5%.

There was also a strong expansion in passenger numbers between August and July, counters the negative trend seen in previous months. IATA says  expansion in passenger numbers is consistent with signs of improving business conditions, after a period of weakness in international trade and business confidence earlier in the year.
The improvement in international passenger numbers has been supported by strong growth on markets like Europe – Far East (6.7%) and North and Mid Pacific (7.1%). Recent weakening of the Eurozone economy is yet to have an obvious impact on air travel growth;
In contrast, IATA says, air travel within the Far East and markets connected to South America continue to show weakness, while economic and political turmoil in Thailand has damaged tourism demand over recent months and Malaysia air travel has been impacted by tragedies related to the flag carrier. The North America – South America market has been hit by capacity cuts to Venezuela as well as weakness in key economies like Brazil and Argentina. www.iata.org (ATI).