Bleak outlook for premium airline traffic, says IATA

IATA has reported a 0.6% year-over-year decline in the number of passengers flying in premium seats on North Atlantic routes during March, and a 1% increase on routes within Europe, leading it to describe the outlook for premium airline traffic on North Atlantic and intra-Europe routes as “bleak.” IATA notes the effects of “recession throughout the eurozone and slow growth in the United States,” including the impact of US government spending cuts. “The weakness in developed economies, particularly in Europe, has caused international trade of developed countries to decline overall,” IATA said. “By contrast, international trade in emerging economies —