In a report on trends compiled annually for its members, the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said the substantial growth in traffic reflects positive economic prospects worldwide – based on a forecast of a four per cent increase in the world’s real gross domestic product – and that total scheduled passenger traffic, both international and domestic, measured in passenger-kilometres performed, increased by about eight percent year-on-year.
The ICAO said that the number of passengers carried in 2010 was up 6.3 percent on 2009, at some 2.5 billion passengers, while cargo – measured in freight-tonne kilometres performed – posted a dramatic jump of 18.9 percent after a sharp decline of 11 percent the previous year.
The largest percentage growth in passenger traffic was registered by the airlines of the Middle East with 21 percent, followed by those of the Asia/Pacific region with 12.9 percent, Latin America with 11.4 percent and Africa with 10 percent. Traffic in the mature markets of North America and Europe grew by 6.2 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively.
“Europe is still benefiting from the ability of low cost carriers to expand their point-to-point markets, due in part to the geographical enlargement of the European Union,” said the ICAO. Demand for travel remained strong and resilient despite the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland, which partially closed European airspace in the spring, disrupting business and leisure travel and paralyzing air cargo movements.
Domestically, markets overall grew by 6.9 percent. Rates of 1.5 percent, 3.6 percent and 4 percent in North America, the Middle East and Africa respectively, were offset by rates of 15.1 percent in the Asia/Pacific region, 15.9 percent in Latin America and 12.2 percent in Europe.
New fleets should help shrink carbon footprint
The ICAO reports that the two major aircraft manufacturers, Boeing of the United States and the European Airbus, are expected to have delivered more than 950 new aircraft in 2010, 40 percent of them aimed replacing aircraft in mature markets. “These energy-efficient planes will help reduce the carbon footprint of aviation on the environment and support efforts towards reversing climate,” said the aviation body.
Looking ahead, the ICAO said that based on more than four percent growth in the world economy for the next three years, it forecasts that passenger traffic will increase by 4.7 percent and 4.9 percent in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Oil prices, currently above $80 per barrel, remain a potential impediment to growth, although this could be mitigated by the delivery of new and more fuel efficient aircraft.
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