Premium Class Int’l Air Traffic Dips For September

Premium class international air traffic increased 2.9 percent year over year in September, according to the International Air Transport Association. That's down from a 5.3 percent increase in August and shows “weakness in business travel demand drivers, with global business confidence being dragged down by emerging markets.” In particular, premium traffic decreased on some routes to and within East Asia; premium traffic growth came in stronger within Europe (6.6 percent) and on North Atlantic (5.2 percent) and Mid-Atlantic (6.3 percent) routes. Overall traffic on international routes rose 5.1 percent in September, though that compares with a weak period a year ago.