New figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show a 6.3% growth in first half global international air passenger demand, slightly higher than the 5.9% rise recorded for the full 2006 year. However, passenger demand growth weakened to 5.3% in June, the lowest monthly growth rate in nine months.
Average passenger load factors were 75.7% during the first half of 2007, up 0.6% over the same 2006 period. "A focus on efficiency, with careful capacity management, is keeping load factors at record levels. But the challenge will get tougher. Over the next 18 months almost
1,800 new aircraft will be delivered — equal to 10% of the existing fleet," said Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of IATA.
Asia-Pacific's carriers will receive the biggest share (35%) of the new aircraft, to meet demand in the fast-growing Chinese and Indian
markets. With a stronger emphasis on fleet replacement, but also to meet demand growth, European airlines will take delivery of 26% and North American airlines will take on 25% of the new aircraft on order.
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