IATA Says International Passenger Growth Remains Strong

July 31, 2007

IATA Says International Passenger Growth Remains Strong
July 31, 2007 –The International Air Transports Association reports that international passenger demand grew more than six percent for the first six months of the year. This is slightly higher than the 5.9 percent full-year rise recorded for 2006. Additionally, the average passenger load factors were more than 75.7 percent during the first half of the year, up 0.6 percent over the same period in 2006.

"A focus on efficiency, with careful capacity management, is keeping load factors at record levels. But the challenge will get tougher. Over the next 18 months almost 1,800 new aircraft will be delivered – equal to 10 percent of the existing fleet," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of IATA.

Asia-Pacific’s carriers will receive the biggest share of the new aircraft with 35 percent, to meet demand in the fast-growing Chinese and Indian markets. With a stronger emphasis on fleet replacement, but also to meet demand growth, European airlines will take delivery of 26 percent and North American airlines will take on 25 percent.

"The new aircraft, operated efficiently with high load factors, will keep us on target to improve fuel efficiency 25 percent by 2020," said Bisignani.