Bisignani: Airlines in Survival Mode
International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani characterized the actions needed to address the depressed state

International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani characterized the actions needed to address the depressed state of the world’s airline business as “a matter of survival” during a press conference in Hanoi today.

Bisignani’s alarm calls came as August’s international passenger growth slowed to 1.3 percent, following a “disappointing” growth of 1.9 percent in July. August passenger load factors fell to 79.2 percent, a figure that represents a sharp decline from the 81 percent recorded during the same period last year, as capacity growth outpaced demand. Meanwhile, international freight traffic saw its third consecutive month of contraction, with a 2.7-percent decline following drops of 1.9 percent in July and 0.8 percent in June.