18-Mar-2010 11:03 AM
IATA: premium traffic may have "been cyclical rather than a permanent fall"
IATA reports (17-Mar-2010) the following premium traffic growth highlights by region in Jan-2010:
- Total international: +5.5% year-on-year;
- Within Africa: -5.0%;
- Within Far East: +15.5%:
- Within Middle East: +5.0%;
- Within North America: +3.3%;
- Within Southwest Pacific: +16.6%;
- Within Europe: -7.0%. [more]
IATA: "A robust rise in world trade seems to be driving the upturn in premium passengers, which is largely business travel. It now looks as though the recession in premium travel has been cyclical rather than a permanent fall. Economy travel is also likely to be benefiting from the return of business travel. Faltering consumer confidence
in the US and Europe, as unemployment and debt constrain spending, may be restricting the recovery in leisure travel. However, the consumer picture is much more positive in the emerging markets. ," Source: IATA statement, 17-Mar-2010.