Two year decline in passenger numbers

A new report by the Civil Aviation Authority reveals that airline passenger growth numbers are dwindling in the UK, faced with the renewed popularity of rail travel and a weakened consumer confidence.

The report calculated the passenger growth rate at 2% over the last two years, a sharp drop from the average 6% annual rate beginning in the mid-1970s.

CAA director of economic regulation Harry Bush said a drop in consumer expenditure growth spurred a slump in the market for holiday flights abroad, the largest area of the UK market.

"This is the result of slowing consumer expenditure and confidence, which is feeding through into air passenger travel," Bush said.

"As rail has got better than it was, post-Hatfield [2000 crash], we are seeing it eat into domestic air travel," he added.

Although the UK maintains its status as one of the biggest global air travel markets, it trails behind 14 other EU countries in the realm of market growth. However, the report predicted a strong future for the UK air travel market, calculating a potential doubling of passenger numbers to 465 million by 2030.


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Zoe Westof Editorial


12/01/2008



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