International air freight down in May, but still up for year-to-date

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that for the month of May 2005, freight traffic was 1.6% below the 2004 level, while growth for the first five months of 2005 was 3.1%. Passenger traffic showed 8.8% growth comparing May 2004 to May 2005, and January-May passenger growth was 8.7%.

Click here to view the full statistics tables: http://www.iata.org/pressroom/industry_stats/2005-06-29-01.htm

“May cargo growth slipped into negative territory in Asia, North America, Latin America and Europe, following sluggish performance since the beginning of 2005,” says Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general and CEO. “As a leading economic indicator, the slowdown in cargo traffic demonstrates that the high price of oil is slowing the global economy faster than expected. Passenger traffic for May at 8.8% was much stronger. But we can expect a downward trend as the decline in economic activity works its way through the economy.”

Average load factors for the first five months of 2005 remained high at 73.3%. In all regions, growth in demand outstripped supply. A 10% drop in the value of the EURO against the U.S. dollar is changing the competitive environment on the North Atlantic even as North America carriers continue to shift domestic capacity to international markets.

“Our projection of a $6 billion industry loss is looking optimistic and the need for continued cost reduction is critical," says Bisignani.

Referring to the G8 Summit, Bisignani criticizes proposals to tax aviation to generate funds for aid to developing nations. "Now is not the time to add new taxes to an industry that is already over-charged. Governments must stop thinking of air transport as a cash cow and understand the real value that we bring to the global economy. Connecting global markets and facilitating tourism is vital to development. Dampening demand for travel by further taxing air transport makes no sense. Instead, let's tear down the barriers to trade and give developing nation products access to developed markets," says Bisignani.

www.iata.org