Healthy Growth in Global Airline Capacity in May Reports OAG

WASHINGTON, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Global airline seat capacity and frequency will both experience solid growth in May, over the same month a year ago. May seat capacity will grow 6%, and the total number of flights will increase 5%, over the same month last year, reports OAG, (www.oagaviation.com), the global leader in aviation intelligence, in its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline seats and flights.

The total number of airline seats available, worldwide, is 317.5 million in May, 2010, compared to 298.6 million, the same month in 2009. The total number of scheduled flights increased 5%, to 2.6 million from 2.4 million a year earlier.

"The strengthening of the global economy is reflected in May's scheduling data, which shows a healthy increase in the number of airline seats and flights around the world," said Peter von Moltke, Chief Executive Officer, UBM Aviation. "Indications are that despite the astonishing volcanic ash disruptions to the air transportation system, this month's scheduled seat capacity and frequency are normal and continue the growing trend the industry has been experiencing for the past nine months."

Air traffic to and from all regions of the world show increases in May, with strong growth in seat capacity expected to and from Asia Pacific, with an increase of 9% to a total of 14.3 million seats; to and from the Middle East, increasing by 11%, to 11 million; and to and from Africa, increasing 16%, to 7.2 million seats.

Seat capacity growth was steady to and from all other regions; increasing 7% to and from Europe to a total of 23.6 million; Central and South America by 3% to 9.1 million; and North America by 2% to 17.5 million seats.

Flights increased to and from, and within all regions except North America, which, again this month, saw a slight decline within the region. Within North America, the number of flights declined 1% to a total of 837,944; in 2009 there were 842,986. Flights to and from North America increased 2% to a total of 86,797.

Flights to and from Europe increased 8%, growing to 104,144 flights in May 2010, compared to 96,226 in 2009. Total flights to and from Asia Pacific grew 10% to 58,397 from 53,299; flights to and from Africa increased 17% to 37,349; to and from the Middle East by 11% to 50,686; and in Central and South America by 3% to 56,547.

This data comes from the May 2010 edition of OAG FACTS (Frequency And Capacity Trend Statistics), a monthly report that uses interactive graphs to display performance trends of specific airports, routes, countries or regions, sourced from OAG's consolidated database of global airline schedules. A more detailed review of this month's OAG FACTS statistics – including information about specific regions, routes and airports with illustrative charts and graphs – is available to download at: http://www.oagaviation.com/aviation-reports/reports-facts-0510.htm.

About OAG

OAG provides the industry's most accurate single source for airline information, with essential aviation data and analytics sourced from its comprehensive proprietary airline schedules, fleet and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) databases. OAG is a UBM Aviation business. For more information, go to www.oagaviation.com.

About UBM Aviation

UBM Aviation a global data and information business for the air transport industry. UBM Aviation serves the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics, MRO and business travel communities with information products, market intelligence, news and events. It brings together buyers and sellers of air travel and transport, enabling the world's airlines, their customers and suppliers, to do business successfully. UBM Aviation operates from offices in the UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, Japan, China and The Netherlands. It is a division of United Business Media Limited which is listed on the London Stock Exchange (UBM.L). For more information, go to www.ubmaviation.com.  

SOURCE OAG