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GENEVA: International air traffic held up against the
economic slowdown in May, growing by 6 percent from the equivalent
figure last year, the air travel industry body, International Air
Transport Association (IATA), said on Wednesday.
"This is slower than the
7.4-percent increase recorded for the full year 2007, but stronger
than expected given the economic downturn," said IATA in a
statement.
The increase was lifted by North
American carriers, whose international traffic grew 8.2 percent,
while domestic capacity fell 3.3 percent.
With the higher fuel prices, air
carriers have also been keeping their flights fuller.
International load factors
reversed a declining trend, rising for the first time in three
months to 74.3 percent.
"The high price of oil is
re-shaping the industry. The major shifts in traffic flows
experienced during May reflect this," said Giovanni Bisignani,
IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Meanwhile, cargo growth slumped
to just 1.3 percent for May compared to 4.3 percent posted for 2007,
as Asian cargo traffic contracted due to weakness in the Japanese
economy and the earthquake in China.
-AFP
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