In November, global air passenger traffic grew 8 percent compared to November 2016, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), marking the highest growth rate in five months.
Load factor increased 1.2 percent while capacity rose 6.3 percent.
In October, traffic increased 7.3 percent year-over-year.
“The airline industry is in a good place entering 2018,” Alexandre de Juniac, IATA director general and CEO, said. “November’s strong demand gives the industry momentum. The number of unique city-pair connections now tops 20,000. Passengers not only have more travel choices than ever, the cost of travel in real terms have never been cheaper. Along with delivering great value to customers, airlines are rewarding their shareholders with normal levels of profitability. We expect 2018 to be the fourth year in the row where the industry’s return on invested capital will exceed the cost of capital. In sum, we begin the new year in confidence.”
Despite the optimism, the industry does face challenges, de Juniac said. Infrastructure issues and security threats are ongoing problems. Fees and charges are increasingly contributing to the cost base. Many airports and airport traffic managers do not adapt quickly to changing technology and demands.
Governments must work with the industry to tackle these issues, de Juniac said.