GLOBAL passenger traffic rose by a “healthy 6.5%” year-on-year during 2018, according to new figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Although the growth rate was slightly below the 8% figure for 2017, it was “another year of above-trend growth” and came alongside capacity increases of 6.1% across the global fleet.
The load factor for all flights averaged out at a record 81.9%, up 0.3 points, IATA said.
“2018 was another year of strong passenger demand as aviation continued to support the global economy,” said IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac.
“We expect similar, if somewhat moderating, performance in 2019,” de Juniac added, saying IATA’s confidence was somewhat tempered by concerns over issues such as Brexit and ongoing US-China trade tensions.
The Asia-Pacific was the fastest growing region, with international traffic up 7.3% driven by “robust regional economic expansion and an increase in route options for travellers”.
The IATA figures also collated domestic passenger markets, which saw an overall 7% increase in traffic – although Australia was highlighted as having one of the slowest growing domestic aviation sector, with annual traffic rising just 1.4%.
De Juniac said in 2019 IATA would be a “strong advocate against a rising tide of protectionism and trade conflict”.
Source: traveldaily