São Paulo – Global air passenger traffic grew 4.2% in November last year compared with the same month of 2008, according to data disclosed today (6th) by the Airports Council International (ACI), an organization that brings together airport operators. Cargo traffic grew 11% during the same period.
The performance was considered quite good in a year in which the international financial crisis hit the aviation industry. “The steady improvement of traffic at airports indicates that losses for the year may be softer than originally expected,” said the ACI’s director general, Angela Gittens, according to a release issued by the organization.
According to her, in the first half of 2009 there was an “alarming” reduction in traffic at airports, but since mid-last year the demand bounced back, first for domestic flights and then for international trips.
“For sure, we are comparing November 2009 against November 2008, the month which had the biggest traffic losses in that year. Nonetheless positive passenger growth in all categories – overall global, international and domestic – indicates that the industry remains on track for a rebound,” added Angela.
According to the ACI, November last year was the first month, since March 2008, that saw an increase in passenger traffic in all of the regions surveyed. To the executive, the data for December, yet to be disclosed, should attest to the continuation of that growth.
The organization informed that China, India and Brazil are driving the recovery with regard to domestic flights, while the Middle East and Asia are responsible for the resumption of international trips, the highlights being the airports of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, Bangkok, in Thailand, and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
The ACI also underscored that November was the first month in 2009 when there was growth in passenger volume in domestic flights in Europe and North America.
As for cargo, the organization highlighted the performance of airports in the United States, China, South Korea and Dubai. “The November results provide good reason to be optimistic about 2010. Freight results will continue to perform strongly as the world emerges from recession, and business and consumer confidence rises,” said the world economics director of the ACI, Andreas Schimm, according to the release issued by the organization.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
