The number of international air passengers traveling in premium classes worldwide in January increased by a "weak" 2.6 percent year over year,

according to the International Air Transport Association. IATA noted the "growth trend in premium international travel has flattened over the past several months," citing a "gradual slowdown in improvements in business confidence" in the second half of 2014, "with economic conditions in the eurozone and China deteriorating." Yet, IATA indicated the latest data suggested "signs of a pickup in business confidence in the eurozone and U.S., which could help ease some of the downward pressure on business-related international air travel." The largest percentage growth in January premium traffic occurred on Middle East-Far East (12.3 percent), Mid Atlantic (11 percent) and Europe-Middle East (10.2 percent) routes. Premium traffic on the heavily traveled North Atlantic, which connects North America and Europe, rose 3.7 percent year over year in January. International economy traffic, meanwhile, was up 3.8 percent year over year in January, according to IATA data.