Credit Agricole and Goldman Sachs lead the first 100% prefunded bond
6th August 2012
Carriers in the Middle East maintained a double -digit growth in passenger demand during August while global passenger demand recorded a year-on-year increase of 6.4%, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Passenger demand was up 12.3% in August, and up 16.5% in July. The drop off in August was partially due to the effect of Ramadan but, IATA says, this is reflected of demand to come.
“The rapid improvements in demand that we saw earlier this year are behind us,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director-general and chief executive. “The slowdown of demand in August is consistent with our forecast for a tougher end to 2010 as government stimulus monies run out without having generated significant improvements in employment.”
Nonetheless, Middle Eastern airlines continued to dominate other international airlines with double-digit growth and they are also expecting a bumper rise in profits for the full year. IATA gives a revised projection of $400 million from a June forecast of $100 million profit.
Africa’s carriers also recorded a double digit growth of 10.8% slightly ahead of a capacity expansion of 9 %, says IATA.
“Economies in this region are still delivering robust growth,” says the association. “This is helping to generate further growth in business travel in the region, which is supporting the growth of African airlines passenger business.”