OAG (Official Airline Guide) scheduled database indicates that airlines worldwide will operate 4% more flights in April 2010 as compared to April 2009 with seats increasing by 6% as airlines ground more narrow bodies and A380s are introduced. However North America, the largest market by far, continues a worrying declining trend and remains the only major region to have negative growth. Frequency and capacity have reduced by 3% and 2% respectively. Flights to and from US/Canada have increased marginally by 1% and offered seats by 2%. The number of flights and seat capacity within Middle East is scheduled to rise by 13% and 15% respectively but this represents 45,000 flights, a token number compared with the 2.5m in North America. As compared to April 2009, flight operations within Europe have increased by 13,098 flights to 562,304, an increase of 2%. All these figures include non-IATA budget airlines. www.oag.com
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum