MEDIA RELEASE PR38695
March Global Airline Capacity Exceeds 2008 Levels Reports OAG
WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Global airline capacity for March 2010 shows positive growth, when compared to
leader in aviation intelligence, in its monthly report on trends in the supply of
airline seats and flights. Monthly analysis of the OAG schedule information indicates
that the total number of seats available in March is increasing 5% over 2009. The
total number of seats available in March 2010 is 303.1 million, compared to 289.8
million in 2009, and 299.6 million in 2008.
"March capacity is rebounding and 2010 exceeds not only that of a year
ago, but of the same month in 2008, before the start of the global recession.
This growth in worldwide capacity signals increased confidence in travel
demand," said Peter von Moltke, Chief Executive Officer, UBM Aviation.
Worldwide, airlines will operate 4% more flights in March 2010, as
compared to March 2009. The total number of scheduled flights operating in
March 2010 is 2.46 million.
The highest percentage change in seat capacity to/from a region is to and
from Africa, with an increase in the number of seats by 19%, year-over-year.
Other significant growth is occurring within Central and South America at 18%
and within the Middle East with a 17% increase in seat capacity.
The total number of seats available, worldwide, on flights to and from
Europe in March increases 4%, and the number of flights to and from Europe
increases by 6% in March. In fact, the numbers of flights to and from Europe
are the highest they have been in the last ten years.
The total seat capacity on flights within Europe will increase by 2%,
with an additional 1.27 million seats. Marginal growth within the continent
is expected with the number of flights increasing less than 1%, or by 1,850
to a total of 549,718.
"March is generally a good mix of corporate and leisure traffic, and this
year's growth signals expected demand in both areas. Even in North America
and Europe, where overall growth is lower than the other regions, some of the
larger airports such as Berlin Schoenfield, London Gatwick, Fort Lauderdale
and Baltimore Washington International, are showing increased capacity," von
Moltke continued.
The total seat capacity on flights to and from North America will grow 1%
to 17.05 million in March. Flights to and from North America will increase by
2%, to a total of 88,293. This includes traffic to and from four of the
largest U.S. airports, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Los Angeles and
Denver, where an increased number of flights can be expected in March.
Frequency and capacity within North America, on the other hand, will
experience a 2% decline throughout the month.
OAG FACTS uses interactive graphs to display performance trends of
specific airports, routes, countries or regions from 2001 onwards, 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:
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
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
SOURCE: UBM Aviation
CONTACT: Diana Cronan, Corporate Communications Director, UBM Aviation,
diana.cronan@ubmaviation.com, +1-202-375-8894
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