Traffic, measured in passenger revenue-kilometre (RPKs) rose by 15.4% compared to last year, notably growing in the three…
Traffic, measured in passenger revenue-kilometre (RPKs) rose by 15.4% compared to last year, notably growing in the three markets, while capacity increased by 11.5%. Consequently, load factor improved by 2.5 points, reaching 75.3%, which is the highest load factor in a month of February in Iberia/s history. Since November 2003, Iberia has consecutively achieved record load factors. The number of passengers grew by 9.9% compared to 2003, to more than 2 million. Part of this important increase is due to the fact that February 2004 had 29 days.
Domestic traffic, measured in RPKs, was up 9.3% and capacity increased by 6.4%. Thus, load factor improved by 2 points, reaching 74.2%. Most of the routes registered traffic and load factors increases compared to February 2003. Due to the good evolution of traffic between the mainland and the Canary Islands, Iberia increased capacity by 10.8%, rising RPKs by 12.1%. Traffic inside the mainland grew by 7.7% and load factor improved by 2.4 points.
International traffic rose by 17.3% and capacity increased by 13.2%, leading to a 2.7-point improvement in the load factor. Iberia carried 850.000 passengers in international flights, up 13% on the previous year.
International medium haul load factor improved by 4.2 points, to 61.4%. Traffic increased by 15.1%, more than doubling the growth in capacity (+7.2%). The strike of air traffic controllers in Orly caused some flight cancellations, which had an impact of more than 1% in ASKs in this sector. European Union traffic went up 12.4 % against an increase of 5.8% in capacity. Consequently, load factor improved by 3.6 points. Traffic grew in most of the countries, especially in Greece and Italy. Traffic growth was higher -in relative terms- in North Africa and Middle East routes.
Long haul sector maintained its good performance in February. Traffic rose by 18.2% and capacity grew by 16.6%, leading to a load factor of 82.9% (+1.2 points). Total number of passengers was up 14.2%, while business passengers grew by 22.2%.
North Atlantic traffic rose by 16.2% and capacity increased by 11.9%. Consequently, load factor improved by 2.9 points, to 77.4%. Mid Atlantic traffic went up 8.7%, against an increase of 10.8% in capacity, leading to a load factor of 78.9%; Peru, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela had the greatest traffic growth compared to February 2003; on the contrary, traffic to Caribbean destinations remained weak. South Atlantic traffic rose by 36.7%, overcoming in nearly four percentage points the increase in capacity. The load factor improved by 2.7 points, reaching 93.6%.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
