IATA expects 3.6 Bn passengers 2016

 IATA expects 3.6 Bn passengers annually by 2016
The International Air Transport Association has released an industry traffic forecast. It shows that airlines are expect to fly some 3.6 billion passengers in 2016. That is about 800 million more than the 2.8 billion passengers carried by airlines in 2011, according to the IATA Airline Industry Forecast 2012-2016.

IATA is expecting growing passenger numbers expanding by an average of 5.3 per cent per year between 2012 and 2016. The 28.5 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the period will see almost 500 million new passengers on domestic routes and 331 million new passengers on international flights.

"Despite the current economic uncertainty, expected demand for connectivity remains strong", said Tony Tyler, IATA director general. Globally, aviation industry supports some 57 million jobs and $2.2 trillion in economic activity. The emerging economies of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East will see the strongest passenger growth. This will be led by China.

Passenger growth within the Asia-Pacific region is expected to add around 380 million passengers during the period. Through 2016, the United States will continue to be the largest single market for domestic passengers with 710.2 million passengers.

Source: Breaking Travel News