Global air traffic demand up 6.5%

dubai — Global passenger traffic demand grew 6.5 per cent last year compared to 2017, as measured in total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs).

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) noted that while this represented a slowdown compared to the 2017 annual growth of 8 per cent, it was another year of above-trend growth.

Full-year 2018 capacity climbed 6.1 per cent, and load factor edged up 0.3 percentage points to a record 81.9 per cent, exceeding the previous high set in 2017.

December traffic rose 5.3 per cent year-on-year, the slowest pace since January 2018. Iata said the figure was a continuation of the trend that saw demand growth decelerate to an annualised rate of 5 per cent over the course of the second half of 2018, compared to a 9 per cent pace in the first half.

Iata director-general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac commented: “2018 was another year of strong passenger demand, as aviation continued to support the global economy. We expect similar, if somewhat moderating performance in 2019.”

International passenger traffic in 2018 climbed 6.3 per cent compared to 2017, down from 8.6 per cent annual growth the year before. All regions recorded year-onyear increases in traffic, led by Asia Pacific. However, North America and Africa were the only two regions to post stronger demand growth in 2018 compared to the prior year’s performance.

Traffic among Asia Pacific airlines was up 7.3 per cent, driven by robust regional economic expansion and an increase in route options for travellers, Iata said.

In the Middle East, traffic increased 4.2 per cent. This was down from 6.9 per cent growth in 2017 and was the second year in a row of moderating demand growth. “The deceleration in growth reflects the impact of policy measures and geopolitical tensions, including travel restrictions and the temporary ban on large portable electronic devices,” Iata said. Traffic actually declined 0.1 per cent yearon-year in December, but this may reflect volatility in data according to the association.

North American airlines saw their fastest demand growth since 2011, with full-year traffic rising 5 per cent compared to 2017.