The number of international airline passengers traveling in premium-class seats in May increased 6.5 percent year over year,

according to the International Air Transport Association. IATA noted that the increase was "significantly stronger" than April's year-over-year growth rate of 3.8 percent and that "demand conditions appear to be picking up again, after signs of wavering during recent past months." Growth was strongest on mid-Atlantic routes (up 20.1 percent year over year) as well as most routes connecting to the Middle East. Premium traffic on the heavily traveled North Atlantic route was up 10.3 percent year over year, IATA reported.