|
|||||||||||
|
|
|||
By |
||||
November 28, 2010 - The International Air Transport
Association announced international traffic results for
October showing a 10.1% year-on-year increase in
passenger demand and a 14.4% year-on-year increase for
international freight.
?As we approach the end of 2010, growth is returning to
a more normal pattern. Passenger demand is 5% above
pre-crisis levels of early 2008, while freight is 1%
above. Where we go from here is dependant on
developments in the global economy. The
?Asia outside of Freight appears to be at a turning point. Since May, freight volumes have declined by 5%. October saw an end to the decline in freight with a slight uptick. ?But a single month does not make a trend. And it remains to be seen if this is the stabilization in freight volumes or the start of an upward trend,? said Bisignani. |
||||
|
||||
Improvements in demand are being met by a cautious approach to
capacity expansion. Over the first 10 months of the year,
passenger demand grew by 8.5%, with a capacity expansion of
4.0%. A cargo capacity expansion of 9.2% was well below the
demand increase of 24%. Forward schedules indicate a
continuation of this trend, with a 7.5% passenger capacity
increase planned for the half-year scheduling period beginning
at the end of October.
The 10.1%
growth in passenger demand in October is slightly below the
10.7% recorded in September, but both months are an improvement
over August. North American airlines posted a 12.4% demand
increase over October 2009. October represented the fastest
growth rate for the year. With a capacity increase of 11.9%, the
load factor for North American airlines was pushed to 82.5%, the
highest among all regions. Compared to pre-recession levels of
early 2008, the region?s airlines are carrying 2% more traffic.
European
carriers showed a 9.6% increase over October 2009. This is
significantly better than the 8.6% growth reported for
September. European
airline traffic grew by 1.5% from September to October and is
now 4% higher than the pre-recession levels of early 2008. |
Asia-Pacific
carriers posted a 7.3% demand increase, ahead of a 5.3% increase in
capacity. Volumes remain 1% below pre-crisis levels of early 2008.
African airlines recorded strong growth (13.3%) compared to October
2009. With a capacity increase of 8.9%, load factors improved to 71.8%.
Latin American
airlines posted a comparatively weaker performance with a 4.9% increase
in demand and a 0.7% drop in capacity. The region?s results remain
skewed because of the bankruptcy of Mexicana. The 14.4% international cargo demand year-on-year increase in freight traffic for October was marginally weaker than the 15.5% recorded in September. Nonetheless, international freight volumes actually improved slightly from its September level on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Asia-Pacific
airlines reported a 14.9% year-on-year increase in international freight
demand, down from the 16.2% recorded in September. October?s growth
translates to an impressive 22% annualized growth rate for the region?s
carriers, reflecting the strong economic recovery particularly in
European airlines
recorded a 12.1% year-on-year demand increase in October. North American
carriers saw a slightly larger improvement of 12.2%. For both regions,
October freight volumes represented a 6% improvement on freight volumes
carried in December 2009. Relative weakness in the Euro and dollar is
helping export activity and boosting freight traffic.
Even so, traffic remains 12% below pre-recession levels of early
2008 for European airlines and just 2% higher in
?We are ending
2010 in much better shape than we were just 12 months ago. Airlines have
turned losses into profit?albeit tiny. Despite the economic
uncertainties people continue to fly. Airlines appear to be managing
capacity in the upturn with a good deal of prudence. And cost control
continues to be a main theme for airlines everywhere,? said Bisignani.
?A good example of
airlines delivering change is the conversion to bar coded boarding
passes (BCBP). In 37 days we will achieve nearly 100% capability for
BCBP. The courage to change brings great benefits: $1.5 billion in cost
savings for the industry and greater convenience for our passengers,?
said Bisignani.
?Not all in the
supply chain have the same courage to change. We have been waiting
decades for the efficiency of a Single European Sky. Average air traffic
management costs per flight in Europe are EUR 771, compared to EUR 440
in the |
|
?AvStop Online Magazine Contact Us Return To News |
|