Air passenger, cargo traffic rise in May —IATA

ZURICH, Wednesday

Demand for air travel and air freight rose strongly in May and now exceeds levels seen before the global economic downturn, the airlines body IATA has said.

Passenger demand rose 11.7 per cent from a year earlier, while cargo demand was up 34.3 per cent, the International Air Transport Association said.

IATA’s 230 members include British Airways, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.

"Demand rebounded strongly in May following the impact of the European volcanic ash fiasco in April. Passenger traffic is now 1 percent above pre-recession levels, while the freight market is 6 percent bigger," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General.

European airlines recorded the weakest growth in passenger demand at 8.3 per cent, while Latin American carriers recorded the fastest growth, with a 23.6 per cent increase, IATA said. Air cargo is seen as a leading indicator of the health of global trade.

Earlier this month, the Geneva-based IATA said government spending cuts and debt worries across Europe threatened to weaken demand for air travel on the continent.

Last month, IATA said that in April, when the volcanic ash eruption in Iceland suspended flights across Europe and around the world, passenger traffic fell 2.4 per cent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, Dubai opened what is planned to become the world’s largest airport, starting with cargo operators, making the emirate a two-airport city, as it aspires to build itself into a global logistics hub.

When completed, the airport will have five runways, up to four terminal buildings and the capacity for 12 million tonnes of freight and 160 million passengers a year.

—Reuters