IATA reports Jul-2009 international traffic

IATA reports (27-Aug-2009) the following international traffic highlights in Jul-2009:

• Passenger traffic (RPKs): -2.9% year-on-year;
  • Africa: -5.5%;
  • Asia Pacific: -7.6%;
  • Europe: -3.1%;
  • Latin America: -3.5%;
  • Middle East: +13.2%;
  • North America: -3.2%;
• Passenger load factor: 80.3%;
  • Africa: 72.0%;
  • Asia Pacific: 76.3%;
  • Europe: 82.3%;
  • Latin America: 76.4%;
  • Middle East: 78.8%;
  • North America: 85.5%;
• Cargo traffic (FTKs): -11.3%;
  • Africa: -25.9%;
  • Asia Pacific: -9.5%;
  • Europe: -16.2%;
  • Latin America: -1.2%;
  • Middle East: +1.0%;
  • North America: -14.6%. [more]

IATA: "Demand may look better, but the bottom line has not improved. We have seen little change to the unprecedented fall in yields and revenues. The months ahead are marked by many uncertainties, including the price of oil. The road to recovery will be both slow and volatile. In the meantime, the industry remains in intensive care. The freight numbers tell an interesting story. The sector is being boosted as companies re-stock depleted inventories. Once inventories are at desired levels in relation to sales, improvements in demand will level off until business and consumer confidence returns. Given the large amount of debt in all sectors of the economy, instant relief is not in the forecast. Airlines need to make their money in the June-August peak travel season. Planes are full. Load factors are high. But revenues are way down. Conserving cash, effectively managing capacity and cutting costs will be the long-term theme for every business in the air transport value chain," Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO. Source: IATA, 27-Aug-2009.