The number of international airline passengers flying in premium classes in April rose 3.8 percent year over year,

according to the International Air Transport Association. Improving on March's year-over-year growth rate of 1.9 percent, IATA noted that the "demand environment for premium travel had shown signs of wavering over recent months, but it appears that conditions are now stabilizing." IATA reported the strongest premium traffic growth on mid-Atlantic routes (up 13.8 percent) and Far East-Southwest Pacific routes (up 12.6 percent). International markets to and from the Middle East also performed strongly in April. Yet, premium traffic on North Atlantic routes, the largest international premium market by revenue, anchored by flights connecting the United States with Europe, saw a 0.1 percent year-over-year decline in April premium traffic.