Statistics can be boring or brilliant, but they almost always tell a story. Consider this stat: according to OAG, the world’s airlines will loft some 300 million seats this month. That’s the first time that’s happened.
Specifically, OAG says carrier capacity is at an all-time high for July, with 309.7 million airline seats flying about this month. Put into context, that figure is equivalent to the population of the United States.
In all, worldwide airlines will offer passenger 5 percent more flights this July as compared to last.
Delve deeper into the numbers and there are some fascinating insights. The OAG Quarterly Airline Traffic Statistics shows low-cost carriers (LCCs) fielding 76,000 more flights this year than last – a 23 percent jump. LCCs, discount airlines, keep fares low and spur so-called “legacy carriers” to match in order to retain market share.
Seat growth is more pronounced in some parts of the world than others. It’s no coincidence that the two hottest economies in the world generate a lot of demand for airline seats. There are 45 percent more of them in India this July compared to last, and 19 percent more seats in China.
Transatlantic traffic is robust too depending on where you look. OAG tallied 11 percent more airline seats between New York Kennedy (JFK) and Western Europe this July. Interestingly, there were 135 fewer flights from the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) to Western Europe this July compared to last. That’s a 7 percent fall-off.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler
