International passenger traffic up 9.2% in Jul-2010: IATA

IATA reports (25-Aug-2010) the following total international traffic growth by region in Jul-2010:

• Passenger traffic (RPKs): +9.2% year-on-year;
  • Africa: +13%;
  • Asia Pacific: +10.9%;
  • Europe: +6.2%;
  • Latin America: +14.2%;
  • Middle East: +16.8%;
  • North America: +7.9%;
• Passenger load factor: 82.9%;
  • Africa: 71.7%;
  • Asia Pacific: 80.8%;
  • Europe: 84.5%;
  • Latin America: 79.9%;
  • Middle East: 81%;
  • North America: 87.2%;
• Cargo traffic (FTKs): +22.7%;
  • Africa: +35.2%;
  • Asia Pacific: +25.3%;
  • Europe: +12.1%;
  • Latin America: +25.3%;
  • Middle East: +30.1%;
  • North America: +27.1%. [more] [more - Perspective]

IATA: "Seasonally-adjusted load factors rose from a low point of 72.8% in March last year to a high of 79% in February 2010. Since then there has been a modest slide to 78% (seasonally adjusted) in July. The unadjusted load factor is so much higher at 82.9% since July is the peak month of the year for air travel. Since February demand has expanded 4.1%. Capacity increased by a larger 5.4%, causing load factors to fall back ... Nevertheless, although there has been some slippage, July's load factor was still higher than the previous peak in 2007. Looking ahead to the end of this year we would expect air travel markets to slow to their trend annualised pace of expansion of 6%," Source: IATA, 25-Aug-2010.