Global Air Passenger Traffic Up In Nov 2016

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Global air passenger traffic for November 2016 recorded the strongest demand growth in nine months as total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) grew 7.6 per cent. In a statement here Jan 11, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said, capacity increased 6.5 per cent and load factor edged up 0.8 percentage point to 78.9 per cent. Its Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Alexandre de Juniac, said stronger demand for air travel reflected and supported a pick-up in the global economic cycle. "As the stimulus effect of lower oil prices recedes in the rear view mirror, the strength of the economic cycle will play a key role in the pace of demand growth in 2017," he said. de Juniac said the airline industry continued to deliver strong results. "Passengers benefit from the industry's success. Travel has never been more accessible -- with great fares, many options and more destinations," he said. He said the industry should see another solid year of collective profitability for the airlines in 2017. "However, the industry must be vigilant," he said. IATA said November international passenger demand rose eight per cent compared to the same corresponding period a year ago, with airlines in all regions showing growth. For this segment, Middle East carriers had an 12.2 per cent rise in demand in November, which was the largest increase among regions, it said. Domestic travel demand rose 7.1 per cent year-on-year in November 2016, but the results continued to vary widely, with China, India and Russia showing double-digit growth while demand declined in Brazil and Japan, said IATA. -- BERNAMA