Demand for flights around the world is still holding firm, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The organisation has published traffic figures for October that reveal international passenger traffic rose by 7.7 per cent compared with the same month last year.

While this is down on September's 8.2 per cent increase, the IATA said the statistics show flight demand is still "robust" in many regions, with traffic up by 7.3 per cent during the year to date.

Carriers in the Middle East enjoyed the highest levels of growth in October, followed by those in Latin America and Africa.

"Passenger demand remains strong, but this is a cyclical industry," remarked Giovanni Bisignani, director-general and chief executive of the IATA.

"The next months will be critical to see if the impact of the credit crunch spreads from cargo to corporate and leisure travel."

Last month, the organisation released survey results indicating that travellers around the world are increasingly embracing the use of technologies such as kiosks and e-tickets when flying overseas.

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