International passenger traffic up 4.5% in Dec-2009: IATA

IATA reports (27-Jan-2010) the following international traffic growth highlights:

• Dec-2009:
  • Passenger traffic (RPKs): +4.5% year-on-year;
    • Africa: +3.1%;
    • Asia Pacific: +8.0%;
    • Europe: -1.2%;
    • Latin America: +7.1%;
    • Middle East: +19.1%;
    • North America: -0.4%;
  • Passenger load factor: 77.6%;
    • Africa: 71.5%;
    • Asia Pacific: +78.2%;
    • Europe: 76.0%;
    • Latin America: 76.0%;
    • Middle East: 76.3%;
    • North America: 82.2%;
• 12 months ended 31-Dec-2009:
  • Passenger traffic (RPKs): -3.5%;
    • Africa; -6.8%;
    • Asia Pacific: -5.6%;
    • Europe: -5.0%;
    • Latin America: +0.3%;
    • Middle East: +11.2%;
    • North America: -5.6%;
  • Passenger load factor: 75.6%;
    • Africa: 69.9%;
    • Asia Pacific: 73.9%;
    • Europe: 76.4%;
    • Latin America: 73.0%;
    • Middle East: 73.3%;
    • North America: 79.6%. [more][more - Perspective]

IATA: "In terms of demand, 2009 goes into the history books as the worst year the industry has ever seen. We have permanently lost 2.5 years of growth in passenger markets and 3.5 years of growth in the freight business. Revenue improvements will be at a much slower pace than the demand growth that we are starting to see. Profitability will be even slower to recover and airlines will lose an expected USD5.6 billion in 2010. The industry starts 2010 with some enormous challenges. The worst is behind us, but it is not time to celebrate. Adjusting to 2.5-3.5 years of lost growth means that airlines face another spartan year focused on matching capacity carefully to demand and controlling costs," Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO. Source: IATA, 27-Jan-2010.