The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for January showing a strong increase in demand. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 8 per cent compared to January 2013, an improvement over the December 2013 growth of 6.8 per cent and the full year 2013 growth of 5.2 per cent. January capacity increased 6.7 per cent, pushing load factor up 0.9 percentage points to 78.1 per cent.
“2014 is off to a strong start, with travel demand accelerating over the healthy results achieved in 2013, in line with stronger growth in advanced economies and emerging market regions,” said Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO, IATA.
International passenger demand was up 7.8 per cent compared to the year-ago period with airlines in all regions recording growth and the strongest gains in the Middle East. Capacity rose 6.8 per cent and load factor climbed 0.7 percentage points to 78.3 per cent.
Asia-Pacific carriers’ traffic rose 8 per cent compared to the year-ago period; however, this result is partly distorted by the timing of the Lunar New Year in January, a month earlier than in 2013. Comparisons with December traffic suggest a continuation of the slower growth seen toward the end of 2013, likely in line with signs of a slowdown in the Chinese economy. Capacity climbed 7.5 per cent year-over-year and load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 78.2 per cent.
Domestic travel demand rose 8.2 per cent in January compared to a year-ago, with several markets reporting double-digit growth. Total domestic capacity was up 6.5 per cent, and load factor rose 1.2 percentage points to 77.7 per cent.
“The second century of commercial aviation has begun on a positive note, with air traffic demand rising in line with generally positive economic indicators. While this is in line with an improved overall outlook for 2014, aviation remains highly vulnerable to external shocks. Rising geopolitical tensions around the world have the potential to cast shadows on this optimistic outlook,” Tyler said.
