The number of first and business class airline passengers in February increased 5.9 percent worldwide

, marking a third consecutive month of growth and the largest year-over-year increase measured for any month since April 2008, according to the International Air Transport Association. "As world trade growth returned so has premium travel," IATA said. "There is still some way to go before premium travel recovers previous highs but the decline looks to have been cyclical and we are now moving into the upturn phase of the cycle."