Global Aviation Recovery Reaches Pre 9/11 Levels
10 April 2005
- After four years of gradual recovery the Worldwide number of flight volumes is now exceeding those of Q1 2001
- Year on year flight volumes have increased by 5%
- Low-cost airlines and Asia-Pacific outpace global growth rates
- 160 potential airline start ups
During April 2005, latest figures from OAG reveal, airlines will operate more than 2.27 million flights worldwide, 111,000 compared to April last year and – most significantly – 45,000 more flights than in April 2001.
The statistics are provided in OAG’s latest Quarterly Airline Traffic Statistics, a quarterly snapshot of airline activity around the world. OAG collates data from more than 1000 scheduled airlines, on a daily basis, to give an overview of anticipated travel demand versus historical trends.
Predictably, the biggest year-on-year growth is in China. Compared with April 2004, this month will see a 12% growth in flights to and from China, and a massive 20% increase in domestic flights, an additional 17,000 flights per month.
Worldwide, the growth figure is 5%.
OAG reports a 7% increase in flights to, from & within Europe, and a 9% growth in the number of flights to, from and within Africa. A healthy 10% growth in the number of intra-Asian flights is balanced by a smaller 6% increase in the number of flights to and from the Asia-Pacific region.
The Middle East continues to outperform the global trend, with an 8% increase in flights to and from the region, and a 6% “domestic” increase.
In North America, April 2005 sees a 5% increase in flights to and from the USA and Canada, and a 3% increase in domestic operations.
The low-cost sector in North America has made significant gains since April 2001 rising from 12% of total market to 17%, representing today 147,000 out of the total of 838,000 flights. Worldwide the market share of low-cost carriers has doubled from 6% to 12% since April 2001.
“The international aviation industry can draw considerable comfort from these figures,” says Duncan Alexander, Managing Director of OAG Business Development. “After two truly turbulent years in 2002 and 2003, the world’s airlines have clawed their way back to pre-9/11 levels. China and low-cost carriers are leading the overall recovery”.
To achieve year-on-year growth of five per cent is testament to the industry’s resilience and to consumers’ seemingly-insatiable appetite for travel. OAG also reports that it is tracking a staggering 160 potential start up airlines.
“We are seeing unprecedented levels of new schedules submissions into our database” says Alexander “but it remains to be seen if the surge in fuel prices will put a brake on this growth”.
Key Regions |
Frequency Variance April 2005 – April 2004 |
Worldwide |
5% |
To/From USA & Canada (excluding domestic US and Canada) |
5% |
US Domestic |
3% |
To/From Europe |
7% |
To/From Asia Pacific |
6% |
Within Asia Pacific |
10% |
For further Information please contact:
For further information about OAG please contact Duncan Alexander, Managing Director Business Development at OAG on +44 1582 695476 dalexander@oag.com or Margareta Stanley at DBA on +44 207 930 8033 or e-mail info@nchl.demon.co.uk
For more detailed OAG statistical analysis on capacity trends please call Margareta Stanley at DBA on +44 207 930 8033.