Global air travel demand grew 6.2 percent year over year in November, according to the International Air Transport Association. "Traffic is solid, but there are clear signs that growth is moderating in line with the slowing global economy. We still expect 6 percent demand growth [once 2018 numbers are finalized], but trade tensions, protective tariffs and Brexit are all uncertainties that overhang the industry," said IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac.
Global load factor for November dipped year over year for just the third month in the past two years, by 0.4 percentage points to 80 percent. IATA attributed the drop to weaker demand growth in domestic Asia/Pacific markets like China and to the Middle East, where policy measures and geopolitical tensions weighed down demand growth. Global capacity increased 6.8 percent year over year.
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All regions, led by Europe, showed growth in demand for international travel, which rose 6.6 percent globally as capacity rose 6.7 percent. Load factor dipped by 1 percent to 78.4 percent.
Domestic travel demand rose 5.6 percent year over year in November, and domestic capacity climbed 6.9 percent. Load factor dropped 1 percentage point to 82.8 percent.
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