Slowdown in Growth Rate of Flights Worldwide

- Volume of airline schedules climbs just 2% for May

LONDON, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's airlines are scheduled to
operate 2% more flights for May 2008 compared with the same month last year.
According to the latest statistics from OAG (Official Airline Guide), the
world's authority on flight information, this represents an additional 40,000
flights, which is half as many additional flights as last month's year-on-year
figures. Capacity for May is up by 3%, representing an additional 10.1
million seats compared with the same month last year. A month ago the
year-on-year rise in capacity was 5%.
The total number of flights scheduled to operate worldwide this month is
2.55 million, offering 306.9 million seats to travelers around the globe.
Within this global figure of all scheduled passenger flight operations, the
low cost sector shows a 14% increase both in frequency and capacity, with over
54,000 more flights year on year and an extra 8.2 million low cost seats
worldwide compared to May 2007. The low cost sector for this month now
accounts for 17% of all passenger flights worldwide (up from 16% a year ago)
and 22% of all seats (up from 20%).
The United States, often a barometer of global trends, is showing a 3%
drop in the total number of domestic flights scheduled this month,
representing 22,900 fewer flights and 1.51 million fewer seats. Conversely,
the US low cost sector has a 4% increase both in domestic flights and capacity
for the month (an additional 6,661 flights and 752,392 seats).
Internationally, there is a 3% rise in the total number of all flights to and
from the US, including low cost, with a 5% increase in capacity.
The figures are revealed in the latest OAG Aviation Statistics, a regular
snapshot of airline activity around the world. Flight information and data
solutions company OAG collates data from more than 900 scheduled airlines, on
a daily basis, which gives an accurate overview of anticipated travel demand.
Routes and Regional Growth
Most inter-continental routes are showing healthy growth, the largest
increases being between Western Europe and the Middle East with flights up by
13% and capacity up by 11%. Madrid, Rome, Doha and Abu Dhabi airports are all
showing high percentage increases in planned operations on these routes this
month.
Transatlantic operations remain on an upward curve with an 8% increase in
both flights and capacity compared with May 2007. On the transatlantic route,
London Heathrow is showing the highest increase in operations, with airlines
scheduled to operate 1,020 more flights to or from the airport this month (up
by 18%) compared with May 2007; this is just under half of all additional
transatlantic services and represents 249,570 more seats for flight arrivals
and departures combined.
The changing landscape on the New York/London route has changed
significantly year-on-year, with 2 airlines no longer operating at all (MAXjet
and eos) and four carriers now offering new non-stop services, namely
Continental Airlines between Newark and Heathrow; Zoom Airlines between JFK
and Gatwick; Delta Air Lines between JFK and Heathrow; and American Airlines
between JFK and Stansted.
India and China continue to show year-on-year growth far exceeding the
average. For this month, there is a 31% increase in flights to and from India
(4,126 extra flights) and a 13% rise in domestic operations (5,610 flights).
International flights to and from China (including Hong Kong and Macau) is
showing a 10% increase (3,775 extra flights), and there is a 4% rise in
domestic operations (6,286 flights).
Other markets showing a strong upward trend in their domestic operations
for May 2008 include Canada (up by 12%, or 8,065 more flights); the Russian
Federation (up by 29%, or 6,666 more flights); and Brazil (up by 10%, or 4,650
more flights).
Fleet Growth
Aircraft fleet data from OAG reveals there are 40,076 planes operating
worldwide this month compared to 38,656 the same time last year, an increase
of 3.7%. North America accounts for 36% of the global market with 14,607
aircraft in active service, followed by Europe with 10,649. The regions
showing the largest year on year increases are Latin America & Caribbean
(7.7%) and Asia Pacific (6.6%).
Globally, there are more than 8,200 aircraft on order this month, a rise
of just over 35% compared to this time last year. Asia Pacific accounts for
the largest share of new orders with plans for another 2,755 aircraft. The
Middle East is showing the largest year on year percentage increase at 145%
(458 more aircraft on order than a year ago), followed by Latin America &
Caribbean with an increase of 52%, representing 174 more aircraft.
Steve Casley, Chief Operating Officer, OAG, commented:
"Financial burdens caused by economic uncertainties and rising fuel prices
are starting to take their toll. For those reasons we have seen a higher than
usual number of airlines folded in recent weeks and we are seeing several
other carriers looking to restructure, find partners or even consolidate with
competitors to ensure their long-term survival.
"Yet, OAG's statistics indicate continued and growing consumer demand for
air travel, albeit at a slower rate than previous months, and the airlines are
responding with increased capacity in many markets. Airports, too, are
reviewing their operations to cope with this demand. So far this year, we've
seen at least four major international hubs expand their facilities, namely
Singapore Changi T3 in January; Beijing T3 and Shanghai Pudong T2 in March,
and Heathrow T5 last month. If you combine this with the 35% increase in
aircraft orders, it indicates that despite current financial pressures, the
industry as a whole is gearing up its investment for long-term
sustainability."
Below is a chart showing a 5-year growth trend for selected regions in
terms of number of flight schedules:
Passenger Flights by Region

May May May May May Growth
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 08 vs 07

Worldwide 2,243,013 2,367,951 2,399,815 2,513,642 2,553,657 40,015 2%

To/From
Africa 20,232 22,491 24,446 27,759 30,067 2,308 8%
Within Africa 46,693 51,844 49,647 51,695 59,282 7,587 15%

To/From
Asia/Pacific 37,666 40,189 45,151 48,079 54,647 6,568 14%
Within
Asia/Pacific 410,887 445,483 479,550 517,685 534,964 17,279 3%

To/From China
(inc. HK
& Macao) 27,299 30,543 33,023 38,689 42,464 3,775 10%
Within China
(inc. HK
& Macao) 94,891 110,453 124,471 147,348 153,634 6,286 4%

To/From India 8,480 10,120 12,408 13,243 17,369 4,126 31%
Within India 21,731 23,318 34,761 43,392 49,002 5,610 13%

To/From Central
& South
America 52,307 54,577 55,336 55,437 57,687 2,250 4%
Within Central
& South
America 171,949 172,144 179,438 185,711 188,868 3,157 2%

To/From Europe 72,669 78,230 84,963 90,730 98,867 8,137 9%
Within Europe 522,448 557,321 582,536 611,746 627,521 15,775 3%

To/From
Middle East 24,343 27,029 31,247 33,720 40,310 6,590 20%

To/From
North America 78,365 82,622 84,719 86,573 91,038 4,465 5%
Within
North America 922,810 961,537 914,431 940,306 925,936 -14,370 -2%

In terms of capacity, the Asia and Europe regions are fast approaching the
same levels as North America. For April 08 the volume of seats are 80 million
within Asia Pacific and 75 million within Europe, compared with 83 million
within North America. Despite this, Asia and Europe both are still some way
behind in the number of flights operating within their regions.
OAG publishes a monthly quick reference tool, OAG FACTS (Frequency &
Capacity Trend Statistics) which uses interactive graphs to give an overview
of the performance of a specific airport, route, country or region from 2001
onwards. For more information, a product demo and subscription details, please
visit www.oag.com/go/facts or email customers@oag.com
About OAG (Official Airline Guide)
OAG (www.oagcorporate.com) is a global flight information and data
solutions company for the passenger aviation, air cargo logistics and business
travel markets. It brings together buyers and sellers of air travel and
transport through the management and distribution of airline product
information; the supply of corporate travel planning tools; and the promotion
of travel and transport products.
The business is underpinned by its data management expertise. It is best
known for its airline schedules database which feeds the world's global
distribution systems and travel portals and drives the internal systems of
many airlines, air traffic control systems, aircraft manufacturers, airport
planners and government agencies.
OAG is part of Commonwealth Business Media (www.cbizmedia.com) a wholly
owned subsidiary of United Business Media plc (www.unitedbusinessmedia.com).
SOURCE OAG

Alison Pickering, Head of Corporate Communications of OAG, +44(0)1582-695477,
apickering@oag.com