Global air traffic demand improves in May-2011 but risks remain: IATA

International passenger traffic recorded renewed expansion in May-2011, after a soft patch during the preceding three months. Traffic increased 6.8% year-on-year in May-2011 to be 4% higher than at the beginning of the year. Conversely, freight traffic declined 4% against the post-recession peak of the restocking cycle in May-2010. However, recent months show a renewed upward trend following weakness over the past three months with freight volumes now 2% higher than at the start of 2011.