IATA announces May traffic figures

Airline Industry Information, June 30, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced on Wednesday (29 June) its May 2005 traffic figures.

The number of passengers carried on IATA's 265 member airlines, which cover 94% of all international traffic, increased by 8.8% in May, and by 8.7% over the January-May period, as compared to 2004, said the director general of IATA.

At the same time international air cargo traffic dropped 1.6% in May and over the January-May period increased by just 3.1%, as compared to 2004. Since nearly 50% of traded goods by value are carried by air, trade analysts quoted by Reuters claim the May drop in cargo volume suggests that overall global trade is slowing.

The decrease of international air cargo traffic is a sign of the negative effect of high oil prices on the world economy, said IATA's director general, adding that the number of passengers can also be expected to start dropping.

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