Briefs

摘要

AIR TRAFFIC - Lower air fares during the peak summer travel season bolstered global passenger flows in July, which jumped by 5.9% July versus the previous year, according to latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Cargo volumes climbed by 5% for their strongest showing in 18 months as trade picked up momentum. International passenger flows account for nearly two-thirds of global traffic and posted a 7% rise in revenue passenger kilometers (rpk), while domestic markets with a 36% share expanded by 3.8%. The Middle East showed the largest 13% jump for international rpks, followed by Asia-Pacific (+9.8%), Latin America (7.5%), Africa (+7.4%) and North America (+8.5%). Europe had the slowest gain of 4% as terrorist attacks dampen travel to the region. Trends in domestic markets were mixed. Traffic within China expanded by 10% while Indian passenger flows soared by 26%. Gains in the mature markets were subdued, with US rpks up by 1.6% and Japan’s traffic inching up by 0.9% due to weak consumer spending. Brazil and Russia slid backwards amid economic turmoil, but August data is expected to reflect increased traffic to Brazil during last month’s Olympic Games (JFI Jul.11’16). IATA’s new Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said that, ‘Passenger demand has broadly grown in line with the average of the past 10 years but the industry faces some potential headwinds, including lingering impacts from the series of terrorist attacks and the fragile economic backdrop.’