Slow recovery ahead for global aviation industry

The global aviation industry is not expected to recover quickly from the economic downturn, while the swine flu outbreak has put a further dampener on the prospects for a turnaround. Airports Council International (ACI), representing 597 members operating over 1,679 airports in 177 countries and territories, stated that while worldwide traffic growth in Jun-2009 showed some "positive signs of improvement and a possible indicator that the beginnings of a more durable turn-around are in the making", it warned that "persistent negative factors, including on-going economic uncertainty, tight financial markets, concerns about a global health threat, and geopolitical disruption in some nations, are likely to restrain the prospects of a rapid rebound".