IATA:Int'l air traffic continues to drop in November

GENEVA, Dec. 30 (Chinese media) -- The global air traffic went further along its downward path in November, with passenger and cargo traffic dropping 4.6 percent and 13.5 percent respectively, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced on Tuesday.

"The industry is now shrinking by all measures. The 1.0 percent capacity cut in international passenger markets in November could not keep pace with the 4.6 percent fall in passenger demand," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general and CEO.

"The 13.5 percent drop in international cargo is shocking ... By comparison, this is largest drop since 2001, in the aftermath of Sept. 11," Bisignani said.

"As air cargo handles 35 percent of the value of goods traded internationally, it clearly shows the rapid fall in global trade and the broadening impact of the economic slowdown," he added.

IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93 percent of scheduled international air traffic.

According to the organization, the November passenger decline of 4.6 percent is a considerable worsening from both the 1.3 percent demand contraction in October and the 2.9 percent fall in September.

Asia-Pacific carriers face the most difficult operating environment with a 9.7 percent decline in November, following a 6.1 percent contraction in October.

North American carriers saw international traffic decline by 4.8 percent, while European carriers saw traffic drop by 3.4 percent.

As to freight traffic, Asia-Pacific carriers (representing 44.6percent of global freight) saw a fall of 16.9 percent in November -- the largest decline of any region.

Double-digit freight declines were also experienced by Latin American carriers (-15.7 percent), North American carriers (-14.4 percent) and European carriers (-11.0 percent).

Plummeting business confidence and the continuing turmoil in financial markets indicates that the worsening trend will be continued in December, IATA said.

"With no end in sight for the worsening global economy, the 2008 gloom will carry over into the new year," said Bisignani.

"Relief in the oil price has been outstripped by the falls in demand and capacity cuts are not keeping pace. Improving efficiency everywhere will be theme for 2009," he added.