JEDDAH: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for July showing robust demand growth compared to July 2014 for both domestic and international traffic.

Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 8.2 percent, which was an improvement on the June year-over-year increase of 5.5 percent.

July capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.5 percent, and load factor rose 1.4 percentage points to 83.6 percent.

Results were given a boost by the timing of Ramadan which fell partly in July this year but took place mostly in July in 2014. The holy month tends to subdue demand for air travel.

“July results were strongly positive but slowing global trade and the wild gyrations of stock exchanges around the globe suggest that we may be in for some turbulence in coming months,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO.

International passenger markets

July international passenger demand rose 8.6 percent compared to the same month in 2014, with airlines in all regions recording growth, including Africa for the first time this year. Total capacity climbed 6.5 percent, pushing load factor up 1.6 percentage points to 83.5 percent.

• Middle East carriers experienced a 19.8 percent demand surge in July over the same month in 2014 buoyed by the timing of Ramadan. Capacity rose 17.7 percent and load factor climbed 1.5 percentage points to 79.6 percent.

• Asia-Pacific airlines saw July traffic increase 8.5 percent compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 6.5 percent and load factor climbed 1.5 percentage points to 80.3 percent. The strong performance occurred despite notable declines in trade as well as slower than expected growth in China.

• European carriers’ demand increased by 6.7 percent, reflecting economic recovery in the Eurozone, while capacity climbed 4.0% and load factor rose 2.2 percentage points to 87.3 percent, highest among the regions.