IATA has published its traffic statistics for February which revealed that passenger demand is still falling.
Passenger volumes fell 10.1 per cent compared to a year ago and above the 5.6 per cent reduction seen in January. Overall capacity was cut 5.9 per cent but was unable to keep pace with the drop in demand.
Africa was the biggest loser where demand was down 13.7 per cent, followed by Asia-Pacific (12.8 per cent), North America (12 per cent), Europe (10.1 per cent) and Latin America (3.8 per cent). The Middle East saw the only rise, 0.4 per cent.
Although airlines have cut overall capacity by 5.9 per cent, it has not been enough to keep pace with the fall in passenger numbers.
Cargo suffered badly in February where a 22.1 per cent fall was seen compared to a year ago and is the third consecutive month where reduction exceeded 20 per cent year-on-year.
Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO commented “Gloom continues. The sharp drop in February passenger traffic shows the broadening scope of the crisis. Freight traffic, which began its decline in June 2008 before passenger markets were hit, has now had three consecutive months in the -22% to -23% range. We may have found a bottom to the freight decline, but the magnitude of the drop means that it will take time to recover”.
