The number of first and business class airline passengers in August increased 9.1 percent worldwide

versus a year earlier, marking a ninth consecutive month of growth but a smaller increase than the double-digit percentages observed in the spring and summer months, based on International Air Transport Association data. "There are clearer signs now that the post-recession rebound of international air travel is slowing," according to IATA, "Business confidence is slipping but remains positive. Premium markets are still 11 percent smaller than their pre-crisis size in early 2008." IATA noted "sluggish" premium traffic on North Atlantic routes (+1.1 percent), "surprisingly high business travel development" within Europe (+21.7 percent) and "strong" Asian markets based on healthy trading activity.