The number of people taking cheap flights overseas increased during May, according to new figures published by the Airports Council International (ACI).
The ACI figures were good news for the holidays industry in general, and the aviation sector in particular. They offered proof that people throughout the world are continuing to value their foreign holidays.
There was an overall 6.6 per cent increase in passenger numbers on international cheap flights in May, the association said, with “significant growth” in cheap flights to Turkey, Spain, Russia and destinations across Northern Europe.
Northern Europe holidays proved especially popular in May, with an 8 per cent increase. However, the greatest rate of improvement was in the Asia Pacific region, where the number of people taking cheap flights increased by a whopping 9.8 per cent.
ACI world economics director Andreas Schimm commented: “We are encouraged by the continuing strong growth trend in passenger traffic.”
He went on to point out that there was a general upward trend in the number of people on cheap flights across the world, with the ACI figures for April revealing what the association called a “vigorous increase in international traffic in Europe” of some 11 per cent.
Mr Schimm added: “Most recent forecasts from the IMF predict robust GDP and trade volume growth in excess of 4 per cent. Passenger and freight growth are expected to remain well above that figure for the remainder of 2011.”
The only downward figures in May were for the Africa region, where there was a 16.5 per cent fall in the number of people taking cheap flights across the continent.
