Global air passenger traffic increased overall by 3.2 percent in April, according to the latest air travel report released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
All regions worldwide reported year-over-year gains in passenger demand. However, passenger demand growth in Europe and the United States is modest when compared to the strong growth in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The Middle East reported the highest year-on-year demand for international passenger markets, recording a 10.9 percent increase in demand for April. IATA attributes growth in the region to increased trade volume between the Middle East and Africa. African carriers came in second, trailed closely by Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
In the United States, domestic passenger traffic increased by 1.1 percent year-over-year in April, and dropped 0.5 percent for international traffic for North American airlines. China recorded the highest increase in domestic traffic, with a 10.8 percent increase compared to April 2012.
Passenger demand continued to grow in April, extending the positive trend that has been developing since late 2012.The increase, however, is concentrated in emerging markets. Airlines in Europe and North America reported a modest expansion compared to the strong growth seen in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. While economic developments in Europe and the US certainly bear watching, most indicators continue to signal further expansion in air travel," said Tony Tyler, director general and CEO of IATA.
Related: Air Traffic News