European Regions Airline Association (ERA) member carriers have reported a 6% growth in overall passenger numbers for the first quarter 2001. The figure is 3% down on the same period last year, although 2000 was a leap year which added an extra day of operations. The ERA says: "The trend seems to imply that the strong growth experienced by this sector for the past two decades is levelling out." Passenger load factor, meanwhile, saw rapid growth for the same period with the highest figure, 58.2%, recorded in March. The ERA member fleet also rose by 6% during the first three months, although monthly turbofan utilisation, which declined in the first quarter of last year, did not recover as predicted.
Source: Flight International
