newstodate.aero
APR 09, 2003 (newstodate): AEA says member airlines' international traffic was hit by first week of war in Iraq.
The fall was 7.1% compared to the same week in 2002. As expected, traffic to and from the Middle East was down by a staggering 55.2%, traffic in Europe was at -5.3%, North Atlantic -2.5%, and Far East at -11.6%.
In addition, the emergence of SARS may also have scared passengers away from flying.
-It is too early to say whether Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is having any impact on total traffic to the Far East. Some members are suffering considerably under cancelled bookings to and from this region, others less. On average, the decline in traffic to the Far East is less in week 13 than in week 12; had SARS had a measurable impact in addition to the demonstrable effects of the war, the decline in week 13 should have been greater, says Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, AEA Secretary General.
The fall was 7.1% compared to the same week in 2002. As expected, traffic to and from the Middle East was down by a staggering 55.2%, traffic in Europe was at -5.3%, North Atlantic -2.5%, and Far East at -11.6%.
In addition, the emergence of SARS may also have scared passengers away from flying.
-It is too early to say whether Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is having any impact on total traffic to the Far East. Some members are suffering considerably under cancelled bookings to and from this region, others less. On average, the decline in traffic to the Far East is less in week 13 than in week 12; had SARS had a measurable impact in addition to the demonstrable effects of the war, the decline in week 13 should have been greater, says Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, AEA Secretary General.