Five of Europe's leading airlines all reported improved traffic figures for December.
BA said its passenger capacity (ASK) was up by 3.9% and its traffic (RPK) up 3.2% during the month compared to December 2003.
The airline also said its premium traffic rose by 6.8% - a good sign that business travellers are growing- and its non-Premium traffic up 2.7%.
Lufthansa celebrated its 50th anniversary by topping the 50m passenger mark and recoding its highest ever passenger total for a year of 50.9m.
The carrier also reported a year on year rise in ASK of 13.4% and in RPK of 14.7%.
Air France-KLM said its passenger traffic was up by 6.9% for December compared with December 2003.
Of this, AF said its traffic had increased 3.6% on a 2.8% growth in capacity and KLM said its traffic was up 13.4% on 11% higher capacity.
SAS reported a 2% rise in RPK and a 7.6% increase in ASK compared with December 2003.
Easyjet said its traffic has risen in December by 28% compared with the same month in 2003 despite what ceo Ray Webster described as “tough” trading conditions.
Spanish cut commissions
Three Spanish airlines, Iberia, Spanair and Air Europa have all cut commission payments to agents by 0.5%
The three now pay, respectively 1.5%, 2% and 2.5%. Iberia also plans to cut its payment to 1% on July 1.
New appointments
Fernando Pinto, ceo of TAP Air Portugal has taken over as chairman of the Association of European Airlines (AEA) from Vagn Soerensen, ceo of Austrian. The Associations represents 31 carriers.
Mr Pinto said his main task was to see that the objectives of the AEA's five year plan launched last year were carried out “forcefully.”
The European Low Fares Airline Association has also had a change in leadership with Stefan Vilner, commercial director of Scandinavian low cost operator Sterling replacing Wolfgang Kurth of Hapag-Lloyd Express as president, although on a temporary basis.