Int'l Premium Air Traffic Builds In March

The number of international first and business class passengers grew by nearly 11 percent in March compared with the same month last year, the International Air Transport Association reported today, though the association expects Icelandic ash to have "put a dent" in ongoing recovery in April, though official figures have yet to be released.

IATA expects the volcanic ash situation to drag down the total number of April international passengers by about 4 percent, though it "hopes" that is merely a temporary hiccup in the ongoing traffic recovery.

Business travelers are leading the growth in both economy and premium travel worldwide, IATA said. "As business confidence and world trade have turned up sharply business travelers have returned," IATA said. "Consumer confidence has not recovered in the same way as business confidence."

IATA reported economy travel grew in March, but at a slightly more moderate rate of 9 percent year over year. "Looking at the pace of expansion from the fourth quarter to the first it is clear that premium travel had the stronger impetus," IATA said. Though the direction is resoundingly positive for premium traffic, IATA said travel volumes in the front of the plane remain around 15 percent below pre-recession levels.

IATA said premium travel in the Asia region is seeing the strongest growth trends, while Europe and North America regions remain the laggards.