Image via Shutterstock
International air passenger numbers were up 3.7% in the first six months of this year compared with 2013, despite growth slowing to 2.4% year on year in June.
However, airline association IATA noted the slowdown “has been developing for months”.
Iata reported passenger numbers rose just 0.7% between December and June this year.
And it was traditional markets – the North Atlantic, Pacific and Europe-Far East – that showed the strongest growth.
Separately, UK air traffic management service Nats reported the UK air market grew 2.4% year on year in July.
Iata described emerging markets as “generally weak” and said: “Some are getting weaker.”
Nonetheless, Iata suggested: “Business confidence has been rising in recent months, pointing to a stronger second half for travel.”
It noted: “Premium travel expanded at a slightly faster rate than economy travel, at 3.9% compared with 3.7% [in the first half].”
Iata added: “Major areas of weakness are concentrated on markets connected to a number of key emerging economies.
“The Brazilian economy has been weak and is getting weaker. The economic crises in Argentina and Venezuela are not helping.
“Russia is virtually in recession . . . the Indian economy has been weak . . . The Chinese economy has been managed on to a slower growth path. . . African markets are also notably weak.”
By contrast, Iata said: “The North Atlantic expanded by over 4% in the first half of the year. Europe-Far East was up over 5%.”
The Iata figures come from the association’s June Premium Traffic Monitor, which notes: “The share of premium revenues is almost 50% across the Atlantic.”
Nats reported the highest growth in the transatlantic market to and from the UK, up 6% year on year.