Nov. Int'l. Air Traffic 4% Above Pre-Recession Level

Geneva -- "The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international scheduled traffic results for November showing 8.2% year-on-year passenger traffic growth and a 5.4% increase for freight.  November saw traffic growth slow from the 10% increase recorded in the passenger business and the 14.5% growth in freight in October. The slowdown in 2010 is partially skewed because of the exceptionally rapid rise in traffic volumes recorded during the fourth quarter of 2009. This slower growth does not necessarily signal a negative trend. Even with the decline in November, passenger and freight traffic are still expanding at annualized rates of between 5-6% which is in line with the industry’s historical growth trend."

Highlights of the November report include:

1. The level of international air travel is now 4% above the pre-recession peak of early 2008.

2. November passenger traffic levels for North American carriers equaled the pre-recession levels of early 2008.

3. On a year-to-date basis, passenger traffic in 2010 is 8.5% above the same period last year, and freight volume is above 2009 by 21.9%.