31% rise in air passengers likely in next four years

NewDelhi: Global airline industry could expect a whopping 31 per cent hike in passenger demand in the next four years, with the emerging economies of Asia-Pacific led by China, and the Middle East experiencing the strongest growth, IATA said.
"By 2017, total passenger numbers are expected to rise to 3.91 billion -- an increase of 930 million passengers over the 2.98 billion carried in 2012," the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in an industry forecast for 2013-17.
Maintaining that aviation globally supports some 57 million jobs and $2.2 trillion in economic activity, the report said the airline industry could expect 31 per cent rise in passenger demand by 2017 with 930 million more than in 2012 taking to air travel.
Of the new passengers, approximately 292 million would be carried on international routes and 638 million on domestic routes.
Read News In full 10/12/13 PTI/Economic times