The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced
global passenger traffic results for February showing a rebound in
traffic growth following the slower demand experienced in January,
which was owing to temporary factors including the later timing of
the Lunar New Year in 2018.
Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) for the month rose
7.6%, compared to February 2017, up from 4.6% year-over-year growth
in January. Monthly capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs)
increased by 6.3%, and load factor rose 0.9 percentage point to
80.4%, surpassing the previous record for the month of 79.5%, which
was set in February 2017.
"As expected, we saw a return to stronger demand growth in
February, after the temporary slowdown in January. This is being
supported by the robust economic backdrop and solid business
confidence. However, increases in fuel prices--and labor costs in
some countries--likely will temper the amount of traffic
stimulation from lower airfares this year," says Alexandre de
Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO.
IATA says African airlines experienced a 6.3% rise in traffic
for the month compared to the year-ago period. The growth occurred
amid an improving regional economic backdrop. Business confidence
in Nigeria has risen sharply over the past 15 months while a
reduction in political uncertainty in South Africa has contributed
to an improvement in business confidence there for the first time
in more than a year. Capacity rose 3.3%, and load factor climbed
1.9 percentage points to 67.8%.