IATA international premium traffic down 9.3% in Oct-09

IATA reports (17-Dec-2009) the following international premium traffic growth highlights in Oct-2009:

• Total international: -9.3% year-on-year;
  • Within Far East: -9.3%;
  • Within Middle East: -5.8%;
  • Within North America: -28.1%;
  • Within Southwest Pacific: -14.7%;
  • Within Europe: -19.7%. [more] [more - Perspective]

IATA: "Passenger yields have improved in recent months. Load factors have risen as airlines have sustained capacity cuts in the face of rising travel demand. However, aircraft utilisation is down significantly which may be offsetting some or all of the recent declines in aircraft leasing and ownership costs. Moreover, low utilisation represents capacity that could easily return to the market and exert renewed downward pressure on yields, unless the recovery in travel demand is stronger than looks likely. Meantime, tighter supply-demand conditions do appear to be pushing average fares and yields upwards - but only a little. So far a large part of the smaller year-on-year declines - particularly in October - was due to the sharp fall in the same month last year," IATA statement. Source: IATA, 17-Dec-2009.