International passenger traffic up 10.3% in Mar-2010: IATA

IATA reports (28-Apr-2010) the following total international traffic growth by region:

• Mar-2010:
  • Passenger traffic (RPKs): +10.3% year-on-year;
    • Africa: +13.6%;
    • Asia Pacific: +12.6%;
    • Europe: +6.0%;
    • Latin America: +4.6%:
    • Middle East: +25.9%;
    • North America: +7.8%;
  • Passenger load factor: 78%;
    • Africa: 67.4%;
    • Asia Pacific: 79.1%;
    • Europe: 78.1%:
    • Latin America: 73.3%:
    • Middle East: 76.2%;
    • North America: 81.6%;
  • Cargo traffic (FTKs): +28.1%:
    • Africa: +45.8%;
    • Asia Pacific: +34.1%;
    • Europe: +11.7%:
    • Latin America: +47.9%;
    • Middle East: +35.5%;
    • North America: +32.2%.
• 3 months ended Mar-2010:
  • Passenger traffic (RPKs): +8.6% year-on-year;
    • Africa: +10.4%;
    • Asia Pacific: +10.5%;
    • Europe: +4.3%;
    • Latin America: +8.2%;
    • Middle East: +25%;
    • North America: +5%;
  • Passenger load factor: 76.6%;
    • Africa: 67%;
    • Asia Pacific: 78.6%;
    • Europe: 75.7%;
    • Latin America: 77%;
    • Middle East: 75.1%;
    • North America: 78.4%;
  • Cargo traffic (FTKs): +27.8%;
    • Africa: 34.6%;
    • Asia Pacific: +35.9%;
    • Europe: +10.3%;
    • Latin America: +40.3%;
    • Middle East: +34%;
    • North America: +31.6%. [more]

IATA: "Before the plume of volcanic ash from Iceland temporarily closed European airspace in April, international air travel and air freight were rising strongly. The pace of expansion in the first quarter of this year was strong, at an annualised rate of 9%, which is well above the trend growth rate of 6%. This is also much faster than the recovery from the recession of the early 1980s, though not quite as fast as the 14% 1992 recovery from the 1990-91 recession or the 15% 2004 recovery from SARS the previous year. It is also much faster than we and others had been expecting six months ago. This reflects the stronger and faster than expected economic recovery; the IMF has revised up its forecast for global GDP growth in 2010 from 3% to 4.3% during this period." Source: IATA statement, 28-Apr-2010.