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(File picture from http://nigeriatravelsmart.com)

he annual passenger growth for the airline industry went down to 4,8 percent in February this year from the 5-year high of 8,9 percent in January, but was distorted by the fact that 2016 was a leap year, latest International Air Transport (IATA) market analysis shows.

IATA represents some 265 airlines accounting for 83 percent of global air traffic. The industry already supports 6,8 million jobs and generates $72,5 billion of economic activity on the continent.

During the period under review, the passenger market has made a strong start to 2017, reflecting a combination of ongoing stimulus from lower air fares, stronger economic conditions and a favorable annual comparison after disruption a year ago.

Total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose 4,8 percent, compared to the same month last year.

Adjusting for the one fewer day this year, the underlying growth rate was estimated at 8,6 percent, just under January’s increase of 8,9 percent.

Monthly capacity increased by 2,7 percent and load factor rose 1,6 percent to 79,5 percent, which was the highest ever recorded for February.

“The strong demand momentum from January has continued, supported by lower fares and a healthier economic backdrop,” IATA director general and chief executive officer Alexandre de Juniac said in a statement.

“Although we remain concerned over the impact of any travel restrictions or closing of borders, we have not seen the attempted United States ban on travel from six countries translate into an identifiable traffic trend and overall travel demand continues to grow at a robust rate.”

IATA estimates that allowing for inflation, the price of air travel has fallen by more than 10 percent in real terms over the past year, accounting for more than half the growth in RPKs in early 2017.

African airlines continued their recovery, with February traffic up 7,1 percent compared to a year ago.

Capacity rose 2,3 percent and load factor jumped 2,9 percentage points to 66 percent.

IATA said the upward trend in African airlines’ seasonally adjusted passenger traffic has reasserted itself in recent months and RPKs have grown at an annualised pace of nearly 13 percent over the past six months or so.

“This pick-up mainly reflects a recovery on the key route to and from Europe and comes despite ongoing weakness in the region’s biggest economies of Nigeria and South Africa,” De Juniac added.

Meanwhile, business surveys continue to point to a broad-based cyclical pick-up in global economic conditions, which is also helping to support air passenger demand. – online.