African airlines’ passenger traffic hits 7.5%

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for October, showing that African airlines’ traffic grew 7.5 per cent year-on-year in October, up from 3.6 per cent in September.
IATA explained that conditions in the region’s two largest economies—Nigeria and South Africa, still are diverging, with business confidence levels in Nigeria near a three-year high, while confidence levels in South Africa are consistent with falling economic activity.
It said capacity rose 3.4 per cent, and load factor jumped 2.7 percentage points to 70.9 per cent.
Globally, it said passenger traffic results for the period showed that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 7.2 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Capacity grew 6.2 per cent and load factor climbed 0.8 percentage points to 80.8 per cent, which was a record for the month.
October’s performance was a strong bounce-back after the hurricane-related disruptions in September. Domestic and international travel growth largely was in balance.
“As expected, the recent severe weather in the Americas region had only a temporary impact on the healthy travel demand we have seen this year, and we remain on course for another year of above-trend growth,” said IATA’s director general chief executive officer, Alexandre de Juniac
He added that airlines in all regions recorded growth with total capacity climbing 6.0 per cent, and load factor increasing 1.0 percentage point to 79.4 per cent.
Statistics from other regional carriers showed that Asia-Pacific airlines led all regions with traffic growth of 10.3 per cent compared to the year-ago period, which was up from an 8.7 per cent rise in September while capacity climbed 8.4 per cent and load factor rose 1.3 percentage points to 78.0 per cent.
European carriers’ October demand climbed 6.2 per cent over October 2016, which was a slowdown compared to the 7.2 per cent year-over-year growth recorded for September while capacity increased 4.5 per cent and load factor rose 1.3 percentage points to 84.9 per cent, highest among regions.
While economic conditions have shown strong improvement over the past year or so, the upward trend in seasonally-adjusted traffic slowed considerably since May.
Middle East carriers experienced a 6.9 per cent rise in demand in October, improved from 3.9 per cent in September with capacity increasing 5.3 per cent, and load factor climbing 1.0 percentage point to 69.6 per cent.
IATA said traffic has been heavily affected by the now-lifted ban on portable electronic devices, as well as from the proposed travel bans to the US.
North American airlines’ traffic climbed 3.7 per cent in October compared to the year-ago period, lowest among the regions but an improvement compared to the hurricane-impacted 3 per cent growth in September.
Capacity rose 5.2 per cent and load factor dropped 1.1 percentage points to 79.2 per cent.
The region was one of just two regions to post a load factor decline. There continue to be indications that inbound travel to the US is being deterred by the additional security measures now involved with travelling to that country.
Latin American airlines had an 8.7 per cent increase in traffic in October, which was a slowdown from September growth of 10.7 per cent, but still the second strongest percentage growth among regions.
NAHCO aviance MD promises to drive positive change
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), Mr. Idris Yakubu, has said that he would lead the change and fresh drive that the company requires to move to the next level.
Speaking recently when he held his maiden meeting with staff at the company’s head office in Lagos, Yakubu said nahco aviance requires a new and stronger service culture.
“Nahco aviance requires a new and stronger service culture. We are looking forward to a positive change. You need to improve the areas that you can improve, and we must work together to effect the change. Some of the things required are little but they are very important,” he said.
He also told the staff that “we have a lot of work to do to re-position the company” and as someone who believes in teamwork, he said “I cannot do it alone.”
“We must work together to increase revenues, reduce and optimise our costs and exceed our customers’ expectations. Let the world know that nahco is the best in its service and product offerings.
“We have to win back our customers and reinforce the positive perception that our stakeholders have of nahco. The management of the company is focused on recovering lost grounds and would make a renewed drive for excellence in all its activities its watchword,” he said.
However, the managing director warned the staff that the era of ‘business as usual’ was over.
He told them not to take things for granted saying every staff would be held accountable for their action or inaction.
“If you deliberately commit an error that the company has to pay for; then maybe, you should pay. Nahco’s business should be regarded as our business and we must all take ownership,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, he applauded the recent promotion in the company.
Yakubu who promised do even more as staff become more productive and show greater diligence to work, described the exercise as “unparalleled in the industry,” adding that “it is not in my character to lead a de-motivated workforce.”