Passenger demand growth hits five-year peak in January: IATA

Mar 09, 2017: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for January 2017 showing demand (revenue passenger kilometers) rose 9.6 percent compared to January 2016. This was the strongest increase in more than five years. Results were positively affected by traffic associated with the Lunar New Year celebrations, which occurred in January this year, compared to February in 2016.

IATA estimates the holiday-related travel contributed up to one-half a percentage point in extra demand growth. January capacity rose 8 percent and load factor climbed 1.2 percentage points to 80.2 percent. “2017 is off to a very strong start, with demand at levels not seen since 2011. This is supported by the upturn in the global economic cycle and a return to a more normal environment after the terrorism and political ‘shock’ events seen in early 2016,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

January international passenger traffic surged 9.3 percent compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 7.5 percent and load factor climbed 1.3 percentage point to 80.3 percent. All regions recorded year-over-year increases in demand led by the Middle East and Asia Pacific, stated a release.

Asia Pacific carriers recorded an increase of 10.9 percent compared to January 2016, helped by the impact of Lunar New Year-related travel and solid growth on routes within Asia. Capacity rose 8.9 percent, pushing up load factor 1.5 percentage points to 81.4 percent.