12% decline recorded in August
There was a 12% drop in premium traffic in August compared to the same month last year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said today (October 15).
But the airlines' Association said it was better than the 23.5% drop in May.
IATA said: "World trade has picked up since June but not sufficiently to warrant a significant rise in premium travel.
"The reported rise in premium passenger numbers remains fragile".
But IATA said higher load factors were raising the average cost of fares in both economy and business class "as the cheaper seat categories do not have to be left open quite so long".
IATA said the number of passenger flown on international markets in Augusts was 1.5% down on the figure for the same month in 2008. Economy numbers dropped by 0.4% compared with last August.
IATA's traffic monitor said that short haul premium travel in Europe was 20% in August compared with last year, despite a "structural decline" as passengers witched to economy.
Premium travel on North Atlantic routes had "improved" as the US and European economies improved.
But IATA said it was still 8% down on last year. IATA said: "Headwinds from consumer debt and excess business capacity will continue to prevent a strong economic recovery - and therefore travel - in this part of the world."
Premium traffic also fell in Asia-Pacific despite being the region where economic activity had improved.
There was a 10.4% fall in premium travellers in the region in August compared with last year but this was better than the 19.4% slump in July.
www.iata.org