Aviation Industry: 2009 worst year since World War II

Figures from IATA for December and full-year 2009 show the aviation industry ended 2009 with the largest ever decline since World War II.

December's freight demand showed a 24.4 per cent improvement on December 2008 with a load factor of 54.1 per cent. This improvement was exaggerated by the exceptionally weak performance in December 2008, which was the low point on the cycle. Freight demand is still 9 per cent lower than the peak in early 2008.

Asia-Pacific carriers accounted fir over 60 per cent of the increase in international airfreight markets over the past 12 months - outperforming their 45 per cent market share. Despite this improvement, Asia-Pacific carriers' freight volumes remain 8 per cent below peak levels.

European carriers remain 20 per cent below 2008 peak levels. Middle East carriers and Latin American carriers are smaller market participants, but ended the year better than peak levels by 7 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

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