Worldwide airline passenger traffic in January rose 8 percent year over year,

according to the International Air Transport Association. Representing a "strong start for passenger demand in 2014," the growth rate improved upon the 6.8 percent year-over-year increase recorded in December 2013. In North America, international airline traffic in January rose 3.5 percent year over year on 2.5 percent additional capacity. Domestic U.S. traffic rose 2.1 percent, with capacity up 0.2 percent. Year-over-year international traffic-growth rates in January were strongest among airlines in the Middle East (18.1 percent), Asia/Pacific (8 percent) and Europe (6.4 percent).