NAN-H-58
IATA
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Nov. 2,2017 (NAN) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for September showing that demand rose 5.7 per cent compared to the same month in 2016.
A statement signed by IATA’s Director General, Mr Alexandre de Juniac on its website on Thursday, noted that this is, however, the slowest year-on-year increase since February.
The apex aviation body said Hurricanes Irma and Maria weighed heavily on the results, although growth already had been tapering.
“Capacity climbed 5.3 per cent and load factor edged up 0.3 percentage points to 81.6 per cent, which was a record for the month of September.
“September’s growth in passenger demand was healthy, notwithstanding the heavy impacts of extreme weather events on the Americas,” de Juniac said.
According to him, global economic conditions support rising passenger demand, but with higher cost inputs, while the demand stimulation from lower fares has waned, suggesting a moderating trend in traffic growth.
de Juniac said African airlines posted a 3.6 per rise in traffic in September, down from 6.5 per cent in August.
He said :” Capacity rose 0.3 per cent and load factor jumped 2.4 percentage points to 73.8 per cent.
“Conditions in the region’s two largest economies —Nigeria and South Africa — are diverging again, with business confidence levels in South Africa consistent with falling output.”
de Juniac expressed the aviation industry’s solidarity with the victims of the hurricanes, and emphasised the importance of aviation’s ability to deliver aid and support.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by the recent extreme weather events, which uprooted lives and communities and dealt heavy blows to local economies in the affected areas.
“It is at times like these that we truly see the vital role that aviation plays in disaster relief, bringing in much needed first responders and aid workers, as well as supplies, food and medicines to those in need,” he said. (NAN)
ASO/SOA
=========
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle