Global airline traffic grew nearly
12 percent in May over the same month in 2009, bringing passenger levels modestly
above those last seen before the recession hit in 2008.
"Demand rebounded strongly
in May, following the impact of the European volcanic ash fiasco in April,"
IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said in a statement. "Passenger
traffic is now 1 percent above pre-recession levels.”
Carriers from all regions witnessed
demand gains in May, though IATA recorded particular strength among Latin American
carriers with nearly 24 percent growth, Asia-Pacific carriers with 13 percent growth
and Middle Eastern carriers with nearly 18 percent growth.
As has been the case since the
recovery began to take hold among airlines, European carriers recorded what IATA
called "the weakest growth," posting an 8 percent traffic growth rate
in May from the same month in 2009. "Weak economic growth, questions over financial
stability and sharply tightening fiscal policies will likely result in continued
slower demand growth than is experienced in other parts of the world," IATA
said of the region.
North American airlines, meanwhile,
saw nearly an 11 percent increase in passenger traffic in May compared with May
2009, IATA reported.