Research by the International Air Transport Association shows the number of passengers increased by 8.2% in 2010, far outweighing the increase in flight capacity, which increased by only 4.4%.
Middle Eastern airlines experienced the highest rise with a 17.8% gain, while African airlines following shortly behind with an increase of 12.9%. Passenger demand for European airlines was just 5.1%.
IATA director general, Giovanni Bisignani, says: “The world is moving again. People have started to travel and do business again after the aviation industry saw its biggest demand decline in 2009. Now the industry needs to turn the demand for mobility into sustainable profits.”