The number of first and business class airline passengers in June increased 16.6 percent worldwide

versus a year earlier, marking a seventh consecutive month of growth, according to the International Air Transport Association. "Adjusting for the temporary impact of the European airspace closures shows that premium travel was expanding at an annualized rate of 9 percent in the second quarter, while economy travel expanded at an annualized rate of percent," IATA reported. "Transpacific and Europe-Far East continue to show strength on the back of business travel generated by strong Asian economic growth. Transatlantic travel, with the weak European economies at one end, continues to underperform."