Passenger demand for flights 'still booming'

New figures have revealed better than expected growth in passenger demand for flights during the first four months of 2007.

Statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have shown year-on-year growth of 6.7 per cent for the period, primarily due to a strengthening economy, the organisation said.

The Middle East enjoyed particularly high rates of growth between January and April, with a 17.6 per cent rise in demand, followed by Africa with 10.1 per cent growth.

Giovanni Bisignani, director-general and chief executive of the IATA, said that the airline industry is currently seeing a significant amount of "good news".

"Liberalised agreements between the US and Europe and the US and China are opening up important markets. And new aircraft on the horizon will create new fuel-efficient opportunities for both hub and point-to-point traffic," he added.

Earlier this month, operator BAA announced a 1.6 per cent rise in total air transport movements at its airports during April.

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