Demand for air travel up 5.9% in 2014: IATA

[BERLIN] Global air passenger traffic rose 5.9 per cent last year, driven by airlines operating in Asia and the Middle East, a leading industry body said on Thursday.

The 5.9 per cent increase was above the 10-year average growth rate of 5.6 per cent and compares with a 5.2 per cent rise in 2013, the International Air Transport Association said in its regular monthly traffic update.

Capacity rose 5.6 per cent in 2014, it said, meaning the overall load factor - how full planes are - climbed 0.2 per centage points to 79.7 per cent.

REUTERS