INTERNATIONAL. Global passenger traffic in April 2018 showed that demand (revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose by +6.2% compared to April 2017, but was down on March’s 12-month high of +9.7%.
The figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicate a month-to-month slowdown, although the year-on-year comparison is unduly impacted by Easter falling in mid-April, which boosted traffic last year.
IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: “Demand for air transport continues to be above the long-term trend. However, increases in airline cost inputs – most notably fuel prices, mean that we are unlikely to see increased stimulation from lower fares in 2018, compared to previous years.”
IATA – which represents some 280 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic – says that April international passenger demand grew well below that of domestic demand.
International passenger markets
April international demand rose +4.8% compared to April 2017. All regions recorded year-on-year traffic increases (see table) but all were behind the pace of growth reported in March.
Asia Pacific carriers posted the strongest traffic growth (+8.5%) in April, followed by Middle East airlines at +4.1%. Annual comparisons are likely to become more favourable in coming months, owing to the disruptions caused by the proposed travel bans to the US and the since-lifted ban on large portable electronic devices in the year-ago period.
European airlines’ April traffic increased +3.4% compared to April 2017 while North American carriers posted a +0.9% demand increase, which was sharply down compared to the +9.5% growth experienced in March. Comparisons to the year-ago period are distorted by the huge pick-up in traffic in April 2017, said IATA which predicts a bounce back in May.
Latin American airlines experienced a +6.4% rise in April demand in what was a bright spot in the Americas region. African carriers had a +5.1% traffic increase in April. “The upward demand trend remains strong, helped by continuing signs of improvement in the region’s largest economies: Nigeria and South Africa,” said IATA.
Domestic passenger markets
Demand for domestic travel climbed +8.5% in April compared to April 2017, propelled by rocketing growth in India and China. All markets reported increases (see table).
India’s airlines recorded double-digit year-on-year growth (+26.4%) for the 44th consecutive month. This was supported by a combination of strong economic and network expansion. China’s carriers saw demand soar by +15.5% with other markets growing from +3.4% to +6.7%. The weakest growth was in Australia and Japan.
