Int'l premium traffic up 2% in May-2012, int'l economy traffic up 5%

IATA reports (16-Jul-2012) the following premium and economy traffic growth highlights by region in May-2012:

• Premium traffic:
• Total international: +1.7% year-on-year;
  • Within Africa: +7.3%;
  • Within Far East: +11.2%;
  • Within Middle East: +10.2%;
  • Within North America: +18.4%;
  • Within Southwest Pacific: -10.1%;
  • Within Europe: -4.6%;
• Economy traffic:
• Total international: +5.4%;
  • Within Africa: +9.3%;
  • Within Far East: +13.7%;
  • Within Middle East: +3.8%;
  • Within North America: +6.8%;
  • Within Southwest Pacific: +3.6%;
  • Within Europe: +2.9%. [more - original PR]

IATA: "Business confidence has been a good leading indicator for premium travel growth. The fall in the JP Morgan/Market measure of confidence in the manufacturing industry across the world took that index in June to its lowest level since late 2009. This strongly suggests that the weakness starting to appear in premium travel will intensify in the next few months, particularly in markets linked to Europe." Source: Company statement, 16-Jul-2012.