Airports Council International (ACI) World announced that global passenger traffic moderated in the first half of 2019 while the air freight industry continued to experience a downturn.
The global passenger market grew by +3.9%, year-over-year, up from +3.1% in May. Year-to-date growth reached +3.6%, almost one percentage point below its 12-month rolling average. The freight industry has not fared as well. After falling -2.8% in May, the global freight market fell again, by -5.1% in June. Total freight volumes declined -3.2% for the first half of the year.
“The global passenger market managed to sustain its growth rate in June compared to the previous month,” ACI World Director General Angela Gittens said. “While year-to-date results show a slight slowdown, the industry continues to show resilience in the face of the weakened global economy.
“The trade tensions that persist between several major economies – and the accompanying GDP growth slowdown – have had more impact on the air freight industry, which could possibly end 2019 in the negative.”
ACI collects and analyses data from a significant sample of airports that provide regular reports on month-by-month passenger and freight statistics; this forms part of the world’s most comprehensive source for airport traffic data.
Passenger traffic
The international passenger market was the main driver in the overall passenger industry’s regained momentum in June. The international segment posted a +5.7% year-over-year growth rate, two percentage points above May’s results. The mid-year growth for international passenger traffic stood at +4.9% year-to-date, close to twice the gains posted by the domestic market during the same period (+2.5%). The latter gained +2.3% in June, slightly below its +2.4% gain in May.
Of the major regional markets, Europe had the highest growth rate in June, with +4.7% on a year-over-year basis. The region’s growth rate stood at +4.3% for the first half of the year, having just sped ahead of North America. The international segment drove most of its total passenger growth, at +5.4% year-to-date, versus +1.4% for the domestic market.
After performing similarly to Europe until the month of May, North America stood at +3.9% by the end of the second quarter. The region’s total passenger traffic grew +2.9% on a year-over-year basis in June. Unlike Asia-Pacific and Europe, North America’s domestic market remained relatively strong during the first half of the year, gaining +3.7% year-to-date, versus +4.8% for the international segment.
Asia-Pacific remained the lowest performer of the major regional markets in June, gaining +2.1%. The region ended the first half of the year with +1.9% growth on a year-to-date basis. With rising tensions between Japan and South Korea, and the continuing trade spat between China and the United States, 2019 may result in a loss for Asia-Pacific’s major economies. After being the driver of growth for the global air transport industry for the past several years, the current trend represents a major shift in the near-term.
Africa continued to grow significantly in June, gaining +12.3% on a year-over-year basis. Year-to-date results for the region stood at +7.1%, the highest of all regions. Its international passenger market grew +8.3% for the first half of the year, driving most of the total increase.
The Middle East posted the second-highest growth in June, after Africa, with +8.1% gain on a year-over-year basis. The last 12 months have been challenging for the Middle East, resulting in a +2.5% growth for the first half of the year. Political tension in the region remained high, with a limited indication that the high June figures marked a shift in local dynamics.
Latin America-Caribbean performed well in June, growing +6% for the month. The region’s mid-year results were the second highest after Africa, at +5.5%. The domestic segment was a major driver of the region’s performance, standing at +6.3% year-to-date.
Freight volumes
The international freight market continued to decline in June. Year-over-year results reached -5.1% during the month, bringing the mid-year figure to -3.2%. The domestic segment, mostly due to North America and Europe’s robust performance, remained in the positive, at +1.3% for the first half of the year.
North America was the only major region with a positive year-to-date growth rate, having gained +0.5% for the first half of the year, over 4 percentage points above Europe and Asia-Pacific. The domestic market drove North America’s performance, having gained +4.1% year-to-date, compared to -4.4% for its international market.
Asia-Pacific continued its decline in June, with total freight volumes falling by -6.5%, bringing its year-to-date growth rate to -5.9%. Both of its freight markets were negative for the first half of the year, at -3.6% for the domestic segment and -6.7% for the international segment.
Europe contracted by -7% in June, bringing its results to -4.4% for the first half of the year. In line with the global trend, its international market drove most of the decline, at -4.6% for the period.
Latin America-Caribbean declined by -6.3% in June, bringing its results to -1.9% for the first half of the year. The region’s domestic segment remained positive during the period, at +2%, compensating for the weakness in its international segment (-3.5%).
Africa’s air freight industry was, along with North America, one of the two regional markets with positive growth for the first half of 2019. Its year-to-date result reached +1.6%. Africa’s monthly growth rate has fallen steeply, however, at +0.3% on a year-over-year basis in June.
The Middle East‘s air freight industry fell by -7.1% in June, bringing the region’s year-to-date growth rate to -2.7%.
