Global airline traffic unchanged in September from weak 2008 levels

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(The Canadian Press)

By The Canadian Press

GENEVA - The world's airlines continued to struggle last month as passenger traffic was unchanged from the weak levels of last year, the International Air Transportation Association said Thursday.

Overall passenger demand increased 0.3 per cent, while cargo demand decreased 5.4 per cent.

But IATA said the apparent increase was misleading since it was measured against a very week period in 2008 when passenger traffic declined by 2.9 per cent and cargo was off 7.7 per cent.

Seasonally adjusted statistics show a 0.3 per cent drop in passenger volumes from August, reflecting a pause in the economic recovery in the United States and elsewhere.

IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani said it's premature to call the slight improvement a recovery.

"The worst may be over in terms of the fall in demand, but yields continue to be a disaster and costs are rising," he said in a statement.

Non-fuel costs are rising as airlines adjust capacity by flying their aircraft fewer hours. Oil prices are also rising, topping US$75 per barrel, compared to US$43 per barrel at the start of the year.

Passenger demand is five per cent better than the low point reached in March 2009, but is six per cent below the peak in early 2008.

North American demand was unchanged from August, down 2.4 per cent from a year earlier.

European demand decreased in one month, falling by 4.2 per cent in September compared to a decrease of 2.8 per cent in August. This was partly the result of member airlines losing short-haul market share to low-cost carriers.

Asia-Pacific carriers recorded the most significant improvement. Demand grew by 2.1 per cent in September after falling 1.6 per cent in August.

Middle Eastern demand grew by 18.2 during the year, but the number was distorted because Ramadan was in August this year but in September in 2008.

Demand in Latin America increased 3.4 per cent, while Africa was marginally better at a 4.2 per cent decrease.

International cargo traffic is 12 per cent above last December's low but was 17 per cent below the early 2008 peak.