Intra-Asia market eclipses North America as largest travel market

IATA stated (01-Feb-2010) that intra-Asia-Pacific travel eclipsed North America as the world's largest aviation market in 2009, reaching 647 million compared to 638 million within North America (including domestic markets). By 2013 an additional 217 million travelers are expected to travel by air within the Asia Pacific region. IATA stated the Asia Pacific's prospects are "improving faster than other regions, but urged regional leaders to ensure that liberalisation and air traffic management unification allow growth to continue". [more - full speech]

IATA: "Achieving Asia-Pacific's tremendous potential is contingent upon short-term efforts to battle the impacts of the economic downturn with cost reductions and efficiency gains. Longer-term Asia-Pacific must also face global challenges including environment, security and liberalization...Asia-Pacific's prospects are improving faster than other regions... Don't make the same mistakes that we made in Europe. Before air space capacity chokes growth, we should be looking for a seamless Asian sky," Giovanni Bisignani, Director General & CEO. Source: IATA, 01-Feb-2010.