4 AUG: Aviation information service OAG has issued data highlighting growing Asian dominance of the world’s air travel business.
North America, once the world’s biggest aviation market, is now running third behind the Asia Pacific region and Europe.
Asia Pacific growth this month shows a 10% increase in airline seat numbers compared with August last year, OAG says.
The latest figure of 109 million seats is 75% ahead of 2001.
China (including Hong Kong and Macau) continues the lead the region with what OAG calls phenomenal growth of 175% since 2001 - almost tripling seat capacity as the Chinese economy grew to become the world’s second-biggest.
Europe capacity is up 7% this month against August last year to 105 million seats.
North America capacity is up only 1%, year-on-year, to just under 80 million seats.
