IATA: Premium travel still down

Premium travel remained in a slump in November 2009, but improved over October, International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported Tuesday.

The group’s analysis shows the number of passengers traveling on first or business class airline tickets during November was 6.7 percent lower than November 2008. But it marked an improvement over the 9.3 percent drop in October.

IATA said there has been a rise in premium travel in recent months, which is now around 5 percent higher than its May low point, but much of the upturn took place mid-year, since then there has been little further progress once seasonal fluctuations are taken into account.

Premium travel numbers are still roughly 20 percent lower than early 2008 levels.

Economy travel is now showing positive year-on-year growth rates, up 3.5 percent in November, and economy travel levels are now just 4 percent below where they were in early 2008.

Total passenger numbers are some 6 percent away from recovering early 2008 levels, IATA said.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has felt the brunt of the recession as the Valley’s tourism sector struggles. Federal numbers released this week show that Sky Harbor fell from the 9th busiest airport in 2008 to the 10th busiest in 2009.

With Cactus League games just over a month away, tourism officials are hoping that the busy spring travel season will provide a boost to the airport.

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