The strong recovery in air travel is slowing as the growth of the business class travel continues to outpace economy travel, says the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Iata figures suggest that the poor August load figures show the post-recession rebound in aviation has slowed.
"There are clear signs now that the post-recession rebound of international air travel is slowing," says IATA.
The number of passengers travelling in business or first class in August was 9.1% higher than a year earlier, against a 13.8% year-on-year rise in July. Economy numbers were up 6.2%, against 8.8% in July, while demand for premium travel had risen by 17% but the majority of that increase occurred by the end of the first quarter of this year. In the past five months, the growth in premium travel has slowed.
Business confidence is slipping but remains positive and premium markets are still 11% below their early 2008 peak, it said.
Economy travel, driven by leisure markets and consumer confidence, has risen 11% from its 2009 low and passenger numbers in this segment are now above pre-crisis highs.