The global airline industry shows no sign of reducing its activities; with a 5% increase in the number of flights scheduled for May 2007 compared with the same month last year. According to the latest…
The global airline industry shows no sign of reducing its activities; with a 5% increase in the number of flights scheduled for May 2007 compared with the same month last year. According to the latest statistics from OAG, the world’s authority on flight information, this represents an additional 113,827 flights and an astonishing 17.7 million extra seats available to travellers.
A total of 2.51 million flights are timetabled this month, topping the previous industry high of 2.49 million reported for August 2006. Within this global figure of all scheduled passenger flight operations, the low cost sector shows a 22% increase of over 70,000 more flights year on year and a 26% rise in the number of seats available, representing an extra 12 million low cost seats.
Duncan Alexander, Managing Director at OAG, commented: “From an industry perspective this healthy growth bodes very well for the future. We are witnessing a step change in the way airlines are differentiating their product. On the one hand we have seen the low cost sector grow from 6% of all flights in 2001 to 16% today – this is 1 in 5 of all airline seats. On the other hand, network carriers are investing on the high-yield end of the market and upgrading their premium products. This is great news from a traveller’s viewpoint, with much more competition and choice.”
The figures are revealed in the latest OAG Quarterly Airline Traffic Statistics, a regular snapshot of airline activity around the world. Flight information and data solutions company OAG, collates data from more than 1000 scheduled airlines, on a daily basis, which gives an overview of anticipated travel demand.
Regional Growth
Regionally, this month there are over 29,000 more flights within Europe offering 5.5 million more seats, an increase of 5% and 8% respectively over May 2006. Asia/Pacific continues to show strong growth within the region, with 38,000 more flights and 6.2 million more seats, increases of 8% and 9% respectively. North America, while showing a relatively modest growth in percentage terms for flights and seats at 3% for both, represents an additional 2.5 million additional seats on 26,000 more domestic flights.
Growth is especially strong within the Middle East region and for international flights to and from Africa. OAG statistics for this month show there is an increase of 13% in the number of intra-regional flights within the Middle East, representing 4,000 flights and ½ million seats. International flight operations to and from Africa rose by 14%, or 3,300 flights, offering 13% more capacity, or 600,000 more seats.
Looking specifically at the low cost sector, all regions are showing steady growth year on year. Low cost airlines have timetabled 19,000 more flights (3.5 million more seats) within Asia Pacific; 17,500 more flights (2 million more seats) within North America; and 25,700 more flights (4.9 million more seats) within Europe.
Route Growth
With the imminent start of Open Skies across the Atlantic, it is interesting to note that transatlantic traffic for May 2007 shows one of the highest increases of all the major routes: up by 6%, or 1,400 more flights a month involving over 420,000 more seats.
In sheer size, the most noteworthy route showing a year on year increase is for flights between Western Europe and Africa. This month there are over 2,200 more flights scheduled between these two continents, up 13%, and over 360,000 more seats available.
Below is a chart showing a 7-year growth trend for selected regions in terms of number of flight schedules:
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
