Aviation Growth hits all-time high

World’s airlines offer 114,000 more flights and 17.7 million more seats year on year

* 12 million more low cost seats

* Low cost sector now accounts for 16% of all flights worldwide and 1 in 5 of all airline seats

* Significant rises in transatlantic flights

The global airline industry shows no sign of reducing its activities; with a 5% increase in the number of flights scheduled for May 2007 compared with the same month last year. According to the latest statistics from OAG, the world’s authority on flight information, this represents an additional 113,827 flights and an astonishing 17.7 million extra seats available to travellers.

A total of 2.51 million flights are timetabled this month, topping the previous industry high of 2.49 million reported for August 2006.  Within this global figure of all scheduled passenger flight operations, the low cost sector shows a 22% increase of over 70,000 more flights year on year and a 26% rise in the number of seats available, representing an extra 12 million low cost seats.

Duncan Alexander, Managing Director at OAG, commented:

“From an industry perspective this healthy growth bodes very well for the future. We are witnessing a step change in the way airlines are differentiating their product. On the one hand we have seen the low cost sector grow from 6% of all flights in 2001 to 16% today – this is 1 in 5 of all airline seats. On the other hand, network carriers are investing on the high-yield end of the market and upgrading their premium products. This is great news from a traveller’s viewpoint, with much more competition and choice.”

The figures are revealed in the latest OAG Quarterly Airline Traffic Statistics, a regular snapshot of airline activity around the world.  Flight information and data solutions company OAG, collates data from more than 1000 scheduled airlines, on a daily basis, which gives an overview of anticipated travel demand.

Regional Growth

Regionally, this month there are over 29,000 more flights within Europe offering 5.5 million more seats, an increase of 5% and 8% respectively over May 2006. Asia/Pacific continues to show strong growth within the region, with 38,000 more flights and 6.2 million more seats, increases of 8% and 9% respectively. North America, while showing a relatively modest growth in percentage terms for flights and seats at 3% for both, represents an additional 2..5 million additional seats on 26,000 more domestic flights.

Growth is especially strong within the Middle East region and for international flights to and from Africa.  OAG statistics for this month show there is an increase of 13% in the number of intra-regional flights within the Middle East, representing 4,000 flights and ½ million seats. International flight operations to and from Africa rose by 14%, or 3,300 flights, offering 13% more capacity, or 600,000 more seats.

Looking specifically at the low cost sector, all regions are showing steady growth year on year.  Low cost airlines have timetabled 19,000 more flights (3.5 million more seats) within Asia Pacific; 17,500 more flights (2 million more seats) within North America; and 25,700 more flights (4.9 million more seats) within Europe.

Route Growth

With the imminent start of Open Skies across the Atlantic, it is interesting to note that transatlantic traffic for May 2007 shows one of the highest increases of all the major routes: up by 6%, or 1,400 more flights a month involving over 420,000 more seats.

In sheer size, the most noteworthy route showing a year on year increase is for flights between Western Europe and Africa. This month there are over 2,200 more flights scheduled between these two continents, up 13%, and over 360,000 more seats available.

Other noteworthy statistics for May 2007 vs May 2006

All passenger flight operations:

·         To/From UK up by more than 8,000 flights (7%) and 1.9m seats (10%)

·         Domestic China up by 22.9k flights (18%) and 3.2m seats (18%)

·         To/From China up by 5.6k flights (17%) and 1m seats (12%)

·         Indonesia domestic up by 1,700 flights (6%) and 213k seats (6%)

·         Emerging market of Vietnam: flights to/from up by 839 flights (19%)

          and 125k seats (14%)

·         To/From Russia up by 2,500 flights (16%) and 353k seats (16%)

·         Healthy growth for new EU states, including:

To/From Romania up by 800 more flights (14%) and 98k seats (16%)

To/From Bulgaria up by 300 more flights (10%) and 44k seats (12%)

Specific to the Low Cost sector:

·         To/From UK up by 5,100 flights (14%) and 1.1m more seats (17%)

·         To/From Spain up by 13.3k more flights (68%) and 2.5m more seats

          (77%)

·         To/From Germany up by 10,600 flights (52%) and 2m seats (64%)

·         62% growth in India domestic (7.2k more flights) and 1.6m more seats

          (151%)

·         Within Brazil up 40% flights and 44% seats (4.9k flights, 800k seats)

·         Within Malaysia up 40% flights (1,200 flights) and 59% seats (264k)

·         To/From Morocco increase of 171% flights (932 more flights) and 172%

          seats (159k)

Routes/Hubs

·         Contributing to the transatlantic growth: New York JFK to/from W Europe

          has 300 more flights (up 7%) and 70k more seats (up 6%) a month

·         Between Asia Pacific & Western Europe there is steady 3% growth in

          flights and seats (347 flights & 98k seats)

·         Specifically from Hong Kong to/from Western Europe, increase of 172

          flights (15%) & 59k seats (16%)

·         Transpacific growth is running at 2% year on year, with 167 more flights

          and 3% more seats (76k)

·         Between Beijing and N America there are 83 more flights (16%) and 15k

          more seats (10%)

·         Between Shanghai and N America there are 59 flights (17%) and 21.8k

          more seats (23%)

·         Contributing to the growth between Europe and Africa, London Heathrow

          has an additional 122 flights (6%) and 31k seats (6%)

·         Between Cairo and Europe there are 160 more flights (11%) and 20.6k

          seats (7%)

Report by The Mole