Globally, air travel demand rose 7.6 percent in 2017, well
above the 10-year-average annual growth rate of 5.5 percent, according to the
International Air Transport Association. Capacity increased 6.3 percent, and load
factor rose 0.9 percent to 81.4 percent.
International Flights
Demand for international flights was 7.9 percent higher than
in 2016, according to IATA. Capacity increased 6.4 percent, and load factor grew
1.1 percent to 80.6 percent.
All regions recorded year-over-year increases in demand,
thanks to robust economic growth. For the first time since 1994, Asia/Pacific
led all regions. North America's demand growth was tempered by the slowdown
in U.S. inbound travel.
Demand grew in the Middle East, though at a slower pace, and
the region's share of global demand fell to 9.5 percent, its lowest in 20
years. Its market segment to/from North America was hit hardest because of the
temporary ban on large portable electronic devices in aircraft cabins and the U.S.
travel bans.
December 2017
For the month of December, global demand growth slowed year over year, to 6.2 percent. Capacity grew 5.8 percent, and load factor grew 0.3 percent to 80.7
percent.
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