The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that full year 2011 passenger demand rose 5.9% compared to 2010, in line with long-term growth trends. In contrast, cargo markets contracted by 0.7% for the year; but recorded positive demand growth in December of 0.2%. Growth in demand lagged capacity increases at 6.3% (passenger) and 4.1% (cargo) putting downward pressure on load factors. The average passenger load factor for 2011 was 78.1%, down from 78.3% in 2010, while the freight load factor was just 45.9%, down from 48.1% in 2010.

“Given the weak conditions in Western economies the passenger market held up well in 2011. But overall 2011 was a year of contrasts. Healthy passenger growth, primarily in the first half of the year, was offset by a declining cargo market. Optimism in China contrasted with gloom in Europe. Ironically, the weak euro supported business travel demand. But Europe’s primarily tax and restrict approach to aviation policy left the continent’s carriers with the weakest profitability among the industry’s major regions. Cautious improving business confidence is good news. But 2012 is still going to be a tough year,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Passenger demand for December rose 5.4% compared to the same month in 2010. But the trend since mid-year has clearly slowed, as travel markets react with a lag to the declines in confidence that weakened cargo in the second half of 2011. Comparisons with December 2010 are also distorted as severe winter weather in Europe and North America as well as strikes in Europe suppressed demand. December 2011 passenger demand was up just 0.7% over November while the load factor declined 0.2 percentage points. Freight capacity climbed 4.4% in December compared to December 2010. The freight load factor was just 46.1% for the month.

2011 Ends on a Positive Note Capacity, Economy Loom as Issues in 2012 is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

With confidence on a high, the leading German airline resumes operations in the Libyan capital with up to three times weekly flights between Frankfurt and Tripoli ; Future plans to increase capacity; Airport staff and town office are back in full swing to serve inbound and outbound passengers

After almost a year, Lufthansa German Airlines will return to Libya on February 2nd as it resumes up to three times weekly flights between Germany and Libya. Based on expected escalating demand, Lufthansa will eventually increase capacity in the future.

Lufthansa airport staff and town office in Tripoli are now back in force to provide service and assistance to both inbound and outbound passengers.

Lufthansa flights will be operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft in a two-class cabin configuration, featuring Lufthansa’s Business and Economy class.

Lufthansa German Airlines wings back to Tripoli is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

• Air freight markets turned up at the end of 2011, with year-on-year growth in FTKs worldwide at 0.2% in December;
• Air travel also rose in December to a level 5.4% higher than the same month in the previous year, although the trend since mid-year has slowed;
• During the year as a whole, passenger travel markets performed well, given weak economic conditions in western economies – passenger traffic grew 5.9%;
• In international markets, European airlines posted the second fastest growth rates, behind the Middle East;
• For domestic travel, the emerging markets of Brazil, India and China all showed double-figure growth for the full year, while Japan declined 15.2% as a result of the earthquake in March;
• By December, however, the Japanese domestic market had recovered to levels 5% below pre-earthquake levels;
• Cargo markets contracted over the year by 0.7%, with Asia/Pacific declining most, by 4.8%;
• Load factors in passenger markets declined in Q4 as airlines added capacity, while cargo load factors increased slightly in December compared to November from the growth in traffic;
• With an improvement in business confidence in December and January, we are likely to see stabilization in air transport markets.

Air Transport Market Analysis is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

LAN Colombia launched service today between Miami International Airport and Bogota, Colombia. The airline will operate four flights per week onboard modern Boeing Airbus A320 aircraft with connections to 22 destinations in Colombia including Cartagena, Medellin, Cali, Pereira, and Monteria.

“LAN Airlines and its affiliates are committed to growth, while providing passengers an increased number of connections within South America,” said Pablo Chiozza, Vice President, North America and Caribbean, LAN Airlines. “Colombia represents the second largest passenger market in the region, and is the fourth largest economy in Latin America. We are delighted that our affiliate, LAN Colombia, is expanding its service in this fast-growing market and excited by the opportunities LAN Colombia represents for travelers and businesses in the U.S. and in Colombia.”

LAN Colombia is currently the second largest airline in Colombia with 23% market share and an unparalleled network of domestic destinations in the country.

LAN Colombia Launches Miami-Bogota Service is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

• Airlines share prices rallied at year-end, but remain 30% down on the start of 2011. Financial markets continue to expect further downward pressure on airline profits;
• Airline profits worldwide in Q4 were down 55% on last year, but North American airlines in contrast to other regions improved performance;
• Cargo volumes appeared to stabilize at year-end, while air travel growth continued at a slower pace;
• Passenger load factors are starting to slip as aircraft deliveries push capacity growth above demand;
• Fuel prices remain high, though down on peak levels are up 14% on the year due to Asian demand and a squeeze in supply;
• Passenger yields were rising through Q4, largely to recover fuel costs, supported so far by high load factors.

Airlines Financial Monitor is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

Building on the popularity of its powerful suite of mobile travel planning services, Orbitz.com announced the launch of the Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone, a native application that gives customers an intuitive search-and-book experience designed specifically for iPhone and offers travelers powerful comparison tools, secure booking in just three taps and Orbitz Mobile Steals – exclusive, mobile-only discounts of up to 50% off hotel stays in popular cities worldwide.

I tried this and it looks very usefull if you’re traveling lot.

The Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone is available for free from the App Store on iPhone or at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hotels-by-orbitz-for-iphone/id494394928?ls=1&mt=8 and takes full advantage of iPhone’s unique capabilities, providing a streamlined, fast and friendly interface for travelers to find, compare and book hotels.

“Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone allows customers to book a hotel in just three taps and is a must have app for travelers on the go,” said Chris Orton, president of Orbitz.com.  “Since we know that 65 percent of hotel reservations made through Orbitz mobile channels are for same-day stays , we designed the app so that when it is launched, it immediately shows available rates for same-day check-in at nearby hotels.  As an additional benefit, the Hotels by Orbitz App for iPhone also gives customers access to Orbitz Mobile Steals, which offer exclusive, deeply discounted mobile-only rates offering savings of up to 50% on hotels around the world.”

Orbitz.com Launches New “Hotels by Orbitz” App for iPhone is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

Of all potential accidents, airplane ones are amongst those that people least want to consider might happen to them; after all when it comes to flight related accidents, the majority will think of catastrophic scenarios such as plane crashes and collisions. However flight accidents can just as easily mean comparatively minor incidents such as falls, slips or spilt beverages, all of which will result in injuries which are unpleasant but unlikely to be life-threatening. When it comes to pursuing a claim for plane crash compensation in the event of suffering an injury during a flight, the situation is somewhat different from other types of negligence compensation cases – and in fact the laws governing flight accident claims are advantageous to those making a compensation claim.

When it comes to air travel, negligence claims are regulated according to the terms laid out in the Montreal convention, which is accepted in British law. This convention offers two significant benefits to those seeking to pursue a compensation claim following an illness, injury or death as a result of a flight accident, which are not available to those pursuing similar claims involving road travel accidents.

The first of these benefits is that the terms of the convention do not require those pursuing the claim to prove that the negligence of the airline company actually directly contributed to the illness, injury or death that has led to the claim. This is a major difference from other similar types of compensation case, where it is an absolutely necessary to prove not only negligence, but that this negligence led directly to the cause of the claim.

The second advantage in favour of the claimant that the convention lays out is that, if the illness, injury or death occurred during an international flight, the claimant has the right to choose whether to pursue the case in their own home country or in the one they were travelling to, or where the airline company is based – depending upon which of these countries offers a more favourable option for the claimant. If you feel that you have a legitimate case in the event of a flight accident it is best to contact a legal firm specialising in this area.

Flight accident compensation claims is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy

Condor, Germany’s most popular leisure airline, has partnered with Discover the World Marketing to handle its sales and marketing in Greece and Cyprus effective January 2012.

According to Tobias Schnitker, Head of International Sales at Condor, “We selected Discover the World Marketing because they have such valuable industry knowledge about these two great destinations, which translates into helping us reach our full sales potential in these markets.”

“We are looking forward to a long-term and close cooperation with Condor,” said Jenny Adams, CEO of Discover the World Marketing.  “Discover will provide the necessary tools to improve bookings on Condor especially with its seat capacity increases in Greece and its new routes from Karpathos, Mykonos, and Preveza.  These new improvements and Condor’s network are especially ideal for Greek-owned merchant shipping crews to use.”

Condor Partners with Discover the World Marketing in Greece and Cyprus is a post from: Aviation news - Planegrazy