International air travel growth picked up in September

The growth in international air travel accelerated again last month, growing by 10.5 per cent on a 12-month comparison with the help of the end of Ramadan, according to the International Air Transport Association.

“The rebound in growth in passenger markets during September can be attributed to normal volatility in travel patterns accentuated by special factors such as the effect of the Ramadan,” it said in a statement, referring to the Muslim celebration.

Air passenger traffic had grown by just 6.5 per cent the previous month. However, IATA’s director general, Giovanni Bisignani, warned that the industry was still in a volatile situation.

“While September’s passenger growth is reassuring, the accelerating decline of air freight, including in Asia, is an early indicator of some turbulence ahead,” he added.

The year-on-year rate of growth in air freight slowed in September, dropping to 14.5 per cent from 19 per cent in August, a larger than expected decline according to IATA.

Mr Bisignani warned in July of slower growth during the later stages of the year with the end of government economic stimulus programmes.

IATA data released earlier this month picked up signs of slow­down in air travel growth emerging through the summer.