Premium air traffic down 9.3 per cent in October: IATA
19 Dec 2009
The number of premium class passengers was down 9.3 per cent in October compared with 13.9 per cent fall in Oct 2008 year-on-year, compared with 13.9 percent year-on-year fall seen in September, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said yesterday.
For the first ten months of the year, premium airline travellers plunged 18 per cent compared with the same period in 2008.
Revenues from business travel were estimated 20 per cent down in October.
"A stronger rise in world trade in recent months appears to be associated with a modest rise in business travel," the Geneva-based body said in its latest monthly report on premium travel.
Total demand for all classes was down by 5.1 per cent in the 10 months from January to October, versus the same period last year, it said.
Key finding included an increase in economy travel numbers, up 1.3 per cent versus a 0.9 per cent rise in September, while both premium and economy travel volumes were up around 6 per cent from their respective low points, but were still below early 2008 levels.
