Middle East carriers saw passenger traffic increase by 10.5 per cent in June, while capacity jumped 19.5 per cent causing a plunge in load factor by 5.7 percentage points to 74.3 per cent, said a report.

Although results were positive, June traffic growth was slower than in May (14 per cent), partly owing to the timing of Ramadan, which started in June this year. Demand for air travel tends to subdue during the holy month, stated a report from the International Air Transport Association (Iata).

Global passenger traffic results for June showed that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 5.7 per cent compared to June 2014.

This was a slowdown compared to the 6.9 per cent year-over-year growth recorded in May, in part owing to the timing of Ramadan, which depressed travel demand in the Middle East.

Capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) climbed 6.0 per cent, and load factor dipped 0.2 percentage points to 81.1 per cent.

"June was another healthy month for demand for air connectivity, although slower trade activity in emerging Asia-Pacific markets and the impact of the Greek debt crisis on European travel remain worrisome," said Tony Tyler, Iata’s director general and CEO.  – TradeArabia News Service