European Airline Traffic data

The Association of European Airlines has released traffic and capacity data for its members in June 2008.

Following a better-than-expected set of results in May, the June figures more clearly reflected the depressed situation of the market. Year-on-year traffic growth slowed to 1.6pct which, coupled with a 4.0pct increase in capacity, led to a substantial fall in load factor, by 1.9 percentage points to 77.4pct.

Decreases were recorded in Domestic operations (-6.7pct) and on the North Atlantic (-0.2pct). The normally buoyant European cross-border markets grew by 3.2pct and Europe-Far East by just 0.5pct. Regions which continued to post strong growth were the South Atlantic – which, at plus 10.3pct nevertheless suffered a heavy loss in load factor – and the Middle East, with +6.9pct.

Preliminary results for July, based on weekly reports, indicate a growth figure perhaps a percentage point better than in June, driven by a slight recovery in North Atlantic and Far Eastern flows, although both remain substantially depressed. Load factors are expected to show a further decline, although less dramatic than in June.

DHL and TNT recently joined the association with effect from July 1, taking membership to 35 airlines.

The Association of European Airlines has released traffic and capacity data for its members in June 2008.

Following a better-than-expected set of results in May, the June figures more clearly reflected the depressed situation of the market. Year-on-year traffic growth slowed to 1.6pct which, coupled with a 4.0pct increase in capacity, led to a substantial fall in load factor, by 1.9 percentage points to 77.4pct.

Decreases were recorded in Domestic operations (-6.7pct) and on the North Atlantic (- 0.2pct). The normally buoyant European cross-border markets grew by 3.2pct and Europe-Far East by just 0.5pct. Regions which continued to post strong growth were the South Atlantic – which, at plus 10.3pct nevertheless suffered a heavy loss in load factor – and the Middle East, with +6.9pct.

Preliminary results for July, based on weekly reports, indicate a growth figure perhaps a percentage point better than in June, driven by a slight recovery in North Atlantic and Far Eastern flows, although both remain substantially depressed. Load factors are expected to show a further decline, although less dramatic than in June.

DHL and TNT recently joined the association with effect from July 1, taking membership to 35 airlines.