Premium traffic up 2.9% in Jan-2012: IATA

IATA reports (19-Mar-2012) the following premium traffic growth highlights by region in Jan-2012:

• Total international: +2.9% year-on-year;
  • Within Africa: +7.7%;
  • Within Far East: +6.7%;
  • Within Middle East: +13.6;
  • Within North America: +8.2%;
  • Within Southwest Pacific: -8.0%;
  • Within Europe: stable. [more - original PR]

IATA: "There has been a slight upturn in the purchasing managers' index, a leading indicator of premium travel growth. The upturn commenced in the last quarter of 2011 and suggests we could be seeing stabilization or improvement in premium travel markets in coming months. The January 2012 result for premium markets could already be reflecting some of that expected stability in growth rates." Source: Company statement, 19-Mar-2012.