February airline traffic surges in hint of recovery
AIRLINE passenger traffic climbed by 9.5 per cent during the month of February, according to new data by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA warned that the number is slightly inflated because 2009 figures represent the bottom of the recession.
“This is not a full recovery. The task ahead is to adjust to two years of lost growth,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and chief executive officer.
Bisignani said it was expected that traffic would be restored to pre-recessionary levels by the time the summer travel period begins.
European and North American carriers continue to see marginal growth, with passenger demands up by 4.3 and 4.4 per cent respectively.