Airline passenger demand accelerates in June

GENEVA - announced Global passenger traffic results for June released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose by 7.8% compared to June 2017. This was up from 6.0% year-over-year growth recorded in both May and April.

June capacity (available seat kilometres or ASKs) increased by 6.5%, and load factor rose 1.0 percentage point to 82.8%. The first six months of 2018 produced demand growth of 7.0%, a strong performance but down from 8.3% growth recorded in the first half of 2017.

IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, warned, however, that  the looming prospect of a global trade war was casting a long shadow. “Additionally, rising cost inputs —fuel prices have soared by approximately 60% over the past year — are reducing the stimulus of lower fares," he said.     

June international passenger demand rose 7.7% compared to June 2017.

Asia-Pacific airlines’ June traffic rose 9.5% compared to the year-ago period, up from 7.7% growth recorded in May year-over-year. Capacity rose 7.4% and the load factor edged up 1.5 percentage points to 80.6%.

IATA said demand is being stimulated by robust regional economic growth and increased city-pair options for travellers.  www.iata.org (ATI).