Premium traffic up 16.3% in Apr-2011: IATA

IATA reports (20-Jun-2011) the following premium traffic growth highlights by region in Apr-2011:

• Total international: +16.3% year-on-year;
  • Within Africa: +8.8%;
  • Within Far East: +5.6%;
  • Within Middle East: -3.3%;
  • Within North America: -12%;
  • Within Southwest Pacific: -16.8%;
  • Within Europe: +30.2%. [more]

IATA: "Much of the continued weakness in April was still due to Japan, where manufacturing production rose only modestly in April to a level still 14% below February. Recovery is expected, as reconstruction in Japan gathers pace but until that takes place international premium travel markets will remain around 1% weaker than they would otherwise be. Meanwhile business confidence has weakened in other economies, particularly the US where the purchasing managers' index fell to a 20-month low in May. World trade has also slowed. As a result, softer business travel growth looks likely to extend into the next few months," Source: Company statement, 20-Jun-2011.