Global air passenger traffic increased by 6.3 percent in October compared to last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
October’s traffic also increased 0.8 percent from the passenger traffic of September 2018, which hit an eight-month low.
Capacity in October rose 6.3 percent while load factor remained stagnant at 81.1 percent.
“October’s healthy performance is reassuring after the slower demand growth in September —some of which was attributable to weather-related disruptions,” IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said. “However, the bigger picture is that traffic growth has moderated compared to earlier in the year, reflecting a more mixed economic backdrop and reduced demand stimulation from lower fares.”
Air-travel demand is strong moving into the holiday season, de Juniac said.
International passenger demand jumped 6.3 percent in October compared to a year ago and 1.2 percent compared to September. Total capacity rose 6.1 percent while load factor was 79.8 percent, a 0.1 percent increase.
Passenger demand worldwide increased between 4.4 percent and 7.5 percent, and capacity grew between 3.7 percent and 9.1 percent.
Domestic demand spiked 6.4 percent compared to a year ago and was unchanged from September. Capacity rose 6.7 percent while load factor was 83.3 percent, a 0.2 percent drop.