Air travel in India sees 18% rise in March: IATA

Air travel demand in India rose by nearly 18 per cent in March, a more than two-fold increase compared with the global average of 7 per cent, on the back of an improvement in the economy and the industry's market stimulation by way of heavy discounts during the period, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.

March international passenger traffic rose 7 per cent compared to the year-ago period.

Global airline capacity climbed 5.4 per cent and passenger load factor increased by 1.2 percentage points to 78.9 per cent. All regions recorded year-over increases in demand except for Africa.

Asia-Pacific airlines recorded an 11.1 per cent increase in demand compared to March 2014, strongest among the regions.

Domestic air travel rose by 8 per cent in year-on-year in March, driven by growth in China and India, IATA said in its monthly global traffic data report.

China logged the highest growth in domestic traffic worldwide at robust 22 per cent during the reporting month, it said, adding, March international passenger traffic rose seven per cent compared to the year-ago period while capacity surged by 5.4 per cent with seat occupancy in the passenger planes increasing 1.2 percentage points to 78.9 per cent.

All regions recorded year-over increases in demand except for Africa, the IATA said.

''March traffic continues the trend of healthy demand for travel. We may, however, see a softening of demand in the second quarter. There are signs that regional trade activity in Asia-Pacific may be slowing and Eurozone economic weakness continues to disappoint,'' IATA's director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said.

''The devastating earthquake in Nepal has gripped the world's attention. It also has highlighted aviation's vital role. Airlines help transport the responders who perform their heroic efforts in bringing food, medical supplies and equipment to those in need,'' Tyler added.