Travel passenger demand growth slowed in April – IATA
By IFEOMA OKEKE
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic data for April 2018, showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose by 6.2 percent compared to April 2017, which was down from a 12-month high of 9.7 percent in March.
Comparisons with the previous year are impacted by developments, including the comparatively late timing of Easter in 2017, which boosted April traffic.
April capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 5.9 percent, and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage point to 82.3 percent, which was a record for the month of April, surpassing last year’s record of 82.1petcent.
“Demand for air transport continues to be above the long-term trend. However, increases in airline cost inputs, most notably fuel prices, means that we are unlikely to see increased stimulation from lower fares in 2018, compared to previous years,” Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, said.
April international passenger demand rose 4.8% compared to April 2017. All regions recorded year-over-year traffic increases but all were behind the pace of growth reported in March. Total capacity climbed 4.9 percent, and load factor slipped 0.1 percentage point to 81.4 percent
Asia Pacific carriers posted an 8.5% traffic rise in April, strongest among the regions. It was the first time since December 2017 that Asia-Pacific airlines led in growth.
Passenger traffic has continued to trend upwards at an annualized rate in the region of 10 percent supported by robust regional economic expansion and ongoing growth in the number of flight options, which translates into time savings for passengers. Capacity rose 7.6% and load factor improved 0.6 percentage point to 81.0 percent.
European airlines’ April traffic increased 3.4% compared to the year-ago period. While this was down compared to the 9.8% year-over-year growth recorded in March, demand picked up in April in seasonally-adjusted terms. Capacity rose 4.0%. While load factor dipped 0.5 percentage point to 84.6%, it still was highest among the regions.
African airlines’ had a 5.1% traffic increase in April. Capacity rose 4.6%, and load factor edged up 0.4 percentage point to 72.8%. The upward demand trend remains strong, helped by continuing signs of improvement in the region’s largest economies: Nigeria and South Africa. This is only the fourth time in the past 41 months that both economies have been on an upward trajectory at the same time.
Demand for domestic travel climbed 8.5% in April compared to April 2017, propelled by double-digit annual growth in India and China, Capacity increased 7.6%, and load factor rose 0.7 percentage point to 84.0%. All markets reported demand increases.
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