Global air passenger traffic rose by 8.0 per cent in January compared to the same month in 2013, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said today.
The year "is off to a strong start, with travel demand accelerating over the healthy results achieved in 2013," IATA chief Tony Tyler said in a statement.
The soaring numbers came amid "stronger growth in advanced economies and emerging market regions," he said.
January outperformed the previous month, when air passenger traffic rose 6.8 per cent year-on-year and was well above the full year growth last year of 5.2 per cent.
International air traffic swelled 7.8 per cent in January while domestic routes grew 8.2 per cent, IATA said.
Passenger numbers were up across all regions, soaring 18.1 percent in the Middle East.
Airlines in that region are benefiting from a number of strong economies and solid growth in business-related premium travel, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, IATA said.
Air passenger numbers meanwhile jumped 8.0 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region and 6.4 per cent in Europe.
North American carriers meanwhile only posted 3.5-per cent growth, while passenger numbers were up 4.4 per cent in Latin America and 2.7 per cent in Africa.
When it comes to domestic travel, China reported the greatest growth, with passenger numbers up a fifth in January, with an already solid expansion boosted further by the timing of the Lunar New Year, IATA said.
